According to The Ringer, rival executives are expressing concerns that acquiring both Jrue Holiday and Jaylen Brown might become too costly for the Boston Celtics. Despite the Celtics’ recent success, leading the Eastern Conference with a comfortable margin, there are discussions about potential trades due to looming salary cap challenges.
The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be fully implemented next season, leading to severe penalties for teams operating over the second salary apron. This situation poses a challenge for the Celtics, who are currently over the apron and are expected to remain so in the foreseeable future. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens will face the task of balancing the team’s championship aspirations with the impending financial penalties.
Regarding Jrue Holiday, while his defensive prowess makes him a valuable asset for the Celtics, his current and potential future salary may present challenges. Holiday’s contract, valued at around $35 million this year with a player option of $37 million next season, could require negotiation or even trade if his demands exceed the team’s financial plans.
However, it’s unlikely that Boston will consider trading Holiday unless faced with a significant playoff disappointment. Despite discussions among NBA executives about the Celtics needing to determine expendable assets, it’s suggested that the current roster should remain intact for at least another season.
On the other hand, there’s speculation about Jaylen Brown’s future with the team. While there’s no immediate plan to move Brown, the Celtics may eventually need to address financial realities. As the team approaches the 2025 offseason, with potential roster changes and salary constraints due to Jayson Tatum’s supermax extension, retaining all key players may become challenging.
If the Celtics decide to move Brown in the future, it’s expected that the return package would be substantial, comparable to the Kevin Durant trade, which involved multiple players and future first-round picks. While it’s premature to consider such a significant trade, it’s clear that the team’s cap future is a priority for Stevens and the front office.