The Boston Celtics are in a state of flux heading into the 2025-26 season. Jayson Tatum will miss most, if not all, of the year after rupturing his Achilles tendon during their playoff series against the New York Knicks. They’re also about $20 million over the second salary cap apron, meaning they would owe a tax bill of $238 million, according to CelticsBlog.com. Because of that, trade rumors have been running rampant, including with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Brown, who signed a supermax five-year, $304 million contract in July 2023, is owed $53.1 million this upcoming season. Meanwhile, White, who inked a four-year, $129.5 million extension in July 2024, is owed $26.35 million in base salary plus $1.75 million in likely incentives.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens has difficult decisions to make this offseason. The team can look to offload Jrue Holiday ($32.4 million) and Kristaps Porzingis ($30.7 million) to get under the second apron. But if they don’t believe they have a shot at making a championship run and want to reset the books, dealing Brown and White for picks and expiring contracts becomes attractive.
What would it take for the Celtics to part with Brown or White? ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shared his thoughts on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I’m sure teams are throwing crazy offers for guys like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White,” said Charania. “But it will take a pretty insurmountable package to get those guys out of Boston.”
"I'm sure teams are throwing crazy offers for guys like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White..
It will take a pretty insurmountable package to get those guys out of Boston" ~ @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Hx4LEX5biL
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 19, 2025
While it seems unlikely that Brown or White will get dealt, Stevens needs to figure out a way to get the Celtics out of salary cap purgatory that can handcuff them for years to come.
Matt Higgins worked in national and local news for 15 years. He started out as an overnight production assistant ... More about Matt Higgins