The Boston Celtics are facing a challenging financial situation heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
With a salary cap of $225.5 million, which is the highest in the league, the team is nearly $18 million over the second apron and $30 million over the first.
Retaining the current core could cost the Celtics around $513 million in luxury tax penalties due to repeated offenses.
If Boston chooses to keep its star-studded lineup, it will become difficult to build a roster. The team would forfeit the use of its taxpayer midlevel exception and be unable to trade its next seven first-round picks, among other restrictions.
According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, starters Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, who are both set to make over $30 million in 2025-26, could be traded for financial reasons.
With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown earning a combined $107 million to $127 million annually through 2029, Boston must lean heavily on drafting and developing young talent.
However, the franchise’s championship aspirations don’t give its picks much time to develop.
Drafting experienced players
In recent years, the Celtics have found value in drafting players with multiple years of college experience.
Grant Williams, Robert Williams III, Payton Pritchard and Baylor Scheierman were all selected between picks 22 and 30 after multiple years in the NCAA. This trend shows that Boston will target experienced prospects.
It typically takes two to three seasons for Boston’s young players to become reliable rotation pieces. Both Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford, former lottery picks, were traded before reaching that stage.
While Robert Williams III, Grant Williams, and Pritchard earned consistent minutes in their third season.
The Baylor Scheierman project
Scheierman, the 30th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, could follow the pattern.
After making a significant impact with the Maine Celtics in the G League, Scheierman quickly stepped into an NBA role.
https://twitter.com/CelticsLead/status/1897843801017766362
On March 18, he posted a career-high 20 points against the Nets.
https://twitter.com/CelticsLead/status/1902176042963333273
2025 Off-Season
The Celtics hold their own first-round pick and the Washington Wizards’ second-rounder in 2025, projected to fall between 28 and 33.
Potential targets include Auburn’s Johni Broome, Marquette’s Kam Jones, Michigan’s Danny Wolf, and Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. All players fit Boston’s criteria of experienced prospects.
The only draft where the Celtics do not currently own a first-round selection is in 2029.
With Al Horford and Luke Kornet on expiring deals and the apron potentially forcing the team to let go of a starter, Boston’s draft picks have become crucial.
In a win-now window, the Celtics will aim to secure young players ready to contribute sooner rather than later.
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