It Boston Celtics Made his first major movement of the season drop Jrue Holiday at Portland Trail Blazers In exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second round options (2029, 2030). The agreement again makes a younger guard in Simons, but it is also a first step in an important return by the Celtics this season. A league source tells Masslive that Celtics are very active in commercial conversations even after the holiday agreement and more movements could be on the horizon as soon as the next 48 hours.
Where the holiday trade leaves the Boston list for the present? We look closely at the implications of the removal lid and the work left for the Celtics from a financial point of view.
Celtics payroll for 2025-26
Jayson Tatum: $ 54.1 million
Jaylen Brown: $ 53.1 million
Kristaps Porzingis: $ 30.7 million
Derrick White: $ 28.1 million
Anfernee Simons: $ 27.6 million
Sam Hauser: $ 10 million
Payton Pritchard: $ 7.2 million
Baylor Shyman: $ 2.6 million
Xavier Tillman: $ 2.5 million
Nehemiah Quetta: $ 2.3 million
Jordan Walsh: $ 2.2 million (not guaranteed)
First Round Selection: $ 2.5 million
JD Davison: $ 2.2 million (team option)
Analysis: Holiday is $ 4.7 million more than Simons, but the great victory of the Celtics in this agreement is down the Holiday long -term contract. The veteran guard clearly has great value around the league, but it is clear that Holiday’s high salary was a luxury that Boston could not afford, as they entered the repeater’s tax above the second apron with Jayson Tatum.
Instead, the Celtics began to cut their salary slowly and surely in this agreement acquiring Simons. However, there is still a lot of work to do Boston. The team is still $ 18 million above the second apron despite cost savings, so Celtics will have to continue to drag in this number in the coming weeks and months to prevent basketball penalties above the second apron.
The possibility of larger movements for Boston is still very much at stake now, by sources, after a second round departure and the recovery of Tatum. Simons seems to be part of this plan for the moment, but other obvious commercial candidates (Kristaps Porzingis, Sam Hauser) are still candidates to be transferred. A great movement may not be likely, but it cannot be ruled out with Boston that still needs to make important cuts to reduce a luxury tax law project.
Look for the Celtics to stay occupied towards the first round of the NBA draft Wednesday.