Overview
- Boston traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis and saw Al Horford and Luke Kornet depart, cutting a projected payroll and tax exposure from about $500 million to roughly $239 million.
- The moves trimmed about $28 million in 2025–26 salaries and positioned the team below the second tax apron while remaining approximately $4 million over the first apron and about $12 million into the tax.
- Stevens noted the 2032 first-round pick is currently frozen and can be unfrozen by staying under the second apron for three of four years, with aggregation in trades now permitted again.
- Joe Mazzulla plans a deep, high-energy rotation featuring more pace, pressure defense, offensive rebounding, and frequent lineup changes to maximize effort across 10-plus contributors.
- Newcomers Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, and rookie Hugo Gonzalez are set for real minutes as Jayson Tatum rehabs his Achilles and Jaylen Brown is listed questionable for the Oct. 22 opener against Philadelphia.