Overview
- The Celtics traded away Jrue Holiday to Portland and Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta, with Al Horford joining Golden State and Luke Kornet signing with San Antonio in free agency.
- Stevens said retaining last season’s core would have produced an approximately $500 million payroll including taxes, which Boston cut to about $239 million, with about $28 million trimmed from 2025–26 salaries.
- He detailed second-apron penalties such as a frozen 2032 first-round pick and said getting under the line regains the ability to aggregate salaries in trades.
- Boston enters 2025–26 below the second apron but still above the first apron, remaining a tax team by roughly $12 million while planning a deeper 10-plus man rotation with shorter stints.
- New additions include Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, Josh Minott and rookie Hugo Gonzales, and Jaylen Brown said Tom Thibodeau’s preseason visit offered useful insights as Jayson Tatum remains sidelined with his Achilles injury.