The first thing to note is the fact that as things stand, the Celtics are on track to have the NBA’s highest payroll in 2025-26. And by quite some way, too. With almost $230 million in committed salary already, the Celtics are far beyond the second apron threshold already, and extremely far beyond the luxury tax threshold. They are therefore going to be very restricted when it comes to what they can do.
The cost (metaphorical) of having so many good players is the cost (literal) of all those good players. Tatum ($54,126,380 estimated; see below), Jaylen Brown ($53,142,264) and Jrue Holiday ($32,400,000) will eat up almost the entire salary cap between them, and adding Kristaps Porzingis ($30,731,707) to that puts the Celtics in luxury tax territory for just four players. The expense does not stop there, either; the much-improved Derrick White ($28,100,000) will get a pay rise next season, as will bench shooter Sam Hauser ($10,044,044). And then there is Sixth Man of the Year award winner, Payton Pritchard, whose $7,232,143 mercifully represents a bargain.
Boston’s payroll is more than $13 million ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers in second place, and while Cleveland will be both willing and able to run back almost all of what they had, they have youth on their side. The Celtics are tied for the fifth-oldest team in the league, and have little in the way of premium incumbent youth who can replenish the squad from within.
This is not to say that the roster is flawed in its construction, of course; with a front eight like they have had for the past couple of seasons, the Celtics have been enviably strong at all positions. But at a time when the money is tight, and the justification for spending more of it diminished, they are about to get weaker up front because of some key free agents.
