The Future of the Celtics After Their Playoff Elimination
The Boston Celtics' elimination from the playoffs due to injuries to Tatum and Brown raises questions about their future.
Image by Benoît Prieur, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Celtics' hopes of back-to-back titles were dashed by Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon injury. While the Game 5 victory kept a spark of hope alive, the New York Knicks ultimately extinguished that flame by taking Game 6 and advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
This past season has been marked by injuries to key players, financial constraints, and difficult roster decisions, leaving fans wondering what the future holds for the franchise in a crucial offseason.
Status of the Key Players
The Celtics entered the 2025 playoffs as favorites to repeat as champions, led by a talented roster featuring Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis. In Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Tatum suffered a torn Achilles tendon and underwent surgery that same day. Although he is expected to make a full recovery, there are concerns he could be sidelined for the entire 2025–26 season.
Porzingis has been dealing with post-viral syndrome since March, which forced him to miss the end of Game 5 against the Knicks due to respiratory issues.
ESPN also reports that Brown played through the playoffs with a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, an injury that surfaced in February, further raising concerns about the Celtics' future.
Possible Squad Moves
Playoff elimination is only part of the story, as the financial challenges are significant. With a projected $1.4T.5 billion in salaries and luxury fines—the highest figure in NBA history—the Celtics face severe restrictions for being in the “second tier” of the luxury tax. These rules limit their ability to combine contracts in trades, sign released players with high salaries, or use trade exceptions.
Kristaps Porzingis' expiring contract, valued at $14T30.7 million, could be a trade chip, though few teams have the cap space to acquire him without sending salary in return, and his recent health issues are also a factor.
Jrue Holiday, who will earn $14T$32.4 million at age 35, remains confident in the team's title aspirations, but his contract could be traded to ease the financial pressure.
Among the free agents are Al Horford and Luke Kornet. Horford, who will soon turn 39, hasn't ruled out returning after the elimination, though many speculate that he's considering retirement or talks with other teams.
Kornet, 29, had a standout season, highlighted by his seven-block performance in Game 5. Boston's "Bird Rights" allow them to re-sign him despite salary constraints, though finances will play a significant role.
At the draft level, the Celtics own the 28th and 32nd picks in the 2025 draft, giving them opportunities to add young talent at a low cost.
Navigating the Future
Young players like Baylor Scheierman and JD Davison are showing great potential and could become key pieces for the team's future. The difficult conversation about trading beloved players like Porzingis or Holiday could be necessary to avoid long-term salary penalties.
The Celtics' moves this offseason will be crucial to keeping the team on top and could bring disappointment to the hearts of Boston fans.
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