The Boston Celtics began their offseason by making major moves to reduce their massive luxury tax bill, with President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens overseeing trades that sent Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis out of town. Boston also let veterans Luke Kornet and Al Horford depart in free agency, helping the team exit the second luxury tax apron and avoid a projected $500 million payroll.
Speaking to the media on September 25, Stevens addressed the state of the roster and clarified the financial outlook under the Celtics’ new ownership. Crucially, he emphasized that there is no specific tax threshold the front office is required to meet.
“We’re approaching this with a focus on seeing how this team comes together,” Stevens said. “There’s no set goal to hit a certain tax number. While we’re in a much better place than earlier this summer financially, we’ve moved on from great people and talented players. But we’ve brought in new faces who are eager to build chemistry and compete.”
Stevens’ reassurance signals stability under the new ownership, which has so far indicated a willingness to spend into the tax when necessary a promising message for fans as the team enters a new chapter.
Stevens Provides No Specific Timeline for Tatum’s Comeback
At the same press conference, Brad Stevens was asked about the possibility of Jayson Tatum returning to the lineup this season. The four-time All-NBA First Team forward is currently sidelined with a torn Achilles.
“There’s no timeline for Jayson from where I stand,” Stevens said, according to reporter Noa Dalzell.
With Tatum unavailable, Boston’s frontcourt appears both shallow and lacking in experience. Still, as the team enters the early phase of a retooling process, some growing pains are expected during this transition period.
Celtics Begin Training Camp on September 29
Thursday’s press conference comes just a few days before the Celtics start training camp to get ready for the upcoming season. The team will officially return to action on September 29, which also coincides with media day.
During camp, the Celtics will focus on incorporating several new players into the rotation, while coach Joe Mazzulla works on determining the best lineups, rotations, substitution strategies, and player combinations. These adjustments will likely continue throughout the season, with some experimentation expected early on. After a long and quiet offseason, Celtics fans will be excited to hear updates from the team and look forward to the content that will emerge from training camp over the coming weeks.
