The Boston Celtics entered the offseason with one goal in mind, and that was getting under the second apron. Unfortunately, with Jayson Tatum injured, the Celtics had to make some intriguing decisions.
While they were already expected to cut ties with a few of their top players, including Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, even before the injury, this further complicated matters.
However, according to the latest numbers from Yossi Gozlan, one of the top cap experts in the NBA space, the Celtics are still $1.7 million above the first apron and $9.5 million above the luxury tax line. With the front office looking to do whatever they can to ensure they aren't above those, it's possible that a move could still be on the way, according to Sports Illustrated.
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“The Boston Celtics reduce their payroll and luxury tax by a total of $50 million by trading Georges Niang. They’re now just $1.7 million above the first apron and $9.4 million above the luxury tax line. They also create a $8.2 million trade exception,” Gozlan wrote.
Sports Illustrated argued that, given Tatum's injury, it's a better idea to get under the luxury tax now than it would’ve been had he not been hurt. Ultimately, as they noted, it'll be tough for the Celtics to win it all, if they even have a chance. They’re a decent team, but without Tatum, they shouldn't expect to win it all.
“If there was ever a time to get under the luxury tax, this would be the year to do it, with Jayson Tatum set to miss most of next season with a torn Achilles. They have no shot at winning a title without him,” Ryan Stano wrote.
It'll be interesting to see what Brad Stevens does throughout the remainder of the offseason, but it's important to trust him. He knows what he's doing, and that's been evident since he's taken over.