The Boston Celtics may look to cut costs this offseason. Even if they had repeated as NBA champions, the Celtics' roster is simply too expensive to keep intact, as being above the NBA's second tax apron comes with consequences.
For the last two seasons, they've been above the NBA's second tax apron, and being above for a third will lead to more frozen draft assets. The Celtics may trade Jrue Holiday or Derrick White to get under it this offseason, as both are on expensive, long-term contracts.
NBA Insider Marc Stein provided the latest on the Celtics' next move after the New York Knicks eliminated them from the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White
© Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Stein also revealed who the Celtics may prefer to trade between Holiday and White.
"The Celtics' precise determination to keep their various veterans is difficult to calculate so soon after the defending champions' Round 2 exit to the Knicks in six games and the devastating loss of Jayson Tatum to an Achilles rupture, but the early projections in circulation suggest Boston is more apt to make Jrue Holiday available via trade this offseason than Derrick White," he wrote on The Stein Line.
Holiday is older than White, as he'll be 35 in a month, compared to White, who will be 31 not long after. Holiday is also more expensive, as he'll make $32.4 million next season while White will make $28.1 million.
The question will be if it will take one or multiple trades for the Celtics to get under the NBA's second tax apron.