Celtics face tough roster decisions in quest to defend title originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics just started celebrating the 2024 NBA title — one that will likely last well into the summer — but the NBA offseason won’t wait for them.
Free agency essentially opened at the same time Jayson Tatum screamed, “We did it!” The 2024 NBA Draft is this week. On Sunday, Celtics backup forward Oshae Brissett reportedly opted out of the final year of his contract, and while it was a formality that doesn’t necessarily guarantee his departure, it’s a quick and stark reminder that it’s unlikely to turn out that way to see. precisely same if the Celtics reunite in October.
Even as the team was enjoying a dominant playoff run, the front office prepared for what lay ahead. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens is prepared to potentially make the first Round 1 draft selection of his tenure as executive. His to-do list is otherwise fairly simple, in part because of the limitations the new collective bargaining agreement will place on how the Celtics can retool an expensive roster.
Still, it’s up to Stevens and his staff to focus on the complementary pieces that can take the stress out of a returning top six and give Boston every opportunity to duckboat around town next summer. So let’s put the Larry O’Brien aside for a moment and take a big picture of Boston’s offseason.
Top six is in
The Celtics’ entire top six are under contract for the 2024-2025 season. Jaylen Brown’s supermax deal hits the books this year and a first-year salary of $49.4 million puts the Celtics deep in the luxury tax bracket.
Ownership has committed to spending money to maximize this championship window. And that salary obligation is only going up, in part because of the two biggest items on Stevens’ offseason to-do list this summer:
Tatum’s new deal
A year after Brown signed the richest contract in league history, Tatum is expected to take over when he signs a five-year, $315 million supermax contract. That deal won’t take effect until the 2025-2026 season, but will ensure that, if the Celtics wish, the Jays will remain in the green together at least through the 2028-2029 season.
A white extension?
Derrick White is entering the final year of a deal that will pay him $20.1 million in 2024-25. He is eligible for a four-year, $126 million extension before the 2024-25 season.
White turns 30 on July 2, and while he could wait until free agency in hopes of a bigger payday, he could embrace the security of a pact that will pay him an average of $31.5 million per season. Locking up White would ensure the Celtics could keep last year’s favored starting five together for at least two more seasons.
Important reserves available
Even outside the top six, the Celtics are well-positioned with a few top reserves. Al Horford continues to beat Father Time and has expressed interest in potentially playing into his 40s. The 38-year-old big man is under contract for another year for $9.5 million. Payton Pritchard’s extension goes into effect this year, but it already feels like a bargain with a first-year salary of $6.7 million.
Tougher decisions loom over how to preserve the rest of Boston’s bench pieces. That includes:
Brissett chooses it
At first glance, this was a no-brainer. Brissett enters the open market with a chance to gauge rival offers while knowing Boston can bring him back for essentially the same amount it would have otherwise paid.
Brissett didn’t play a particularly robust role on the court, but was ready for his opportunities, including injecting some energy during two appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals. He further endeared himself here with his positive energy and his video blogs.
If Brissett moves on this summer, the Celtics hope sophomore Jordan Walsh takes a step forward in his development.
The Hauser Conundrum
The Celtics have a team option on Sam Hauser, allowing them to bring back the sharp-shooting wing at an affordable salary of $2.1 million. While that’s ideal for the books, the danger is that it could push him into unrestricted free agency next summer, when the Celtics, with their absurd commitment to the top six, would have a hard time matching the offers he’ll receive .
Hauser is eligible for an extension and the team could offer him a deal worth approximately $78 million over four years. The Celtics could also decline his team option this month, making Hauser a restricted free agent, which could pave the way for him to match any reasonable offer he receives on the open market.
The danger is that a rival could make a big-money offer that Boston simply can’t match given its long-term salary obligation.
Hauser’s future is the most tantalizing of any player in Boston’s top eight. He may simply be too expensive for them after this season. The question is whether the team will take another year on a budget, or try to roll the dice a bit in hopes of extending that stay.
Centers of attention
Given the need to get minutes from both Horford and Porzingis, the Celtics would prefer to bring back depth bigs Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet in free agency. The market will determine whether that happens.
Kornet seems likely to draw interest from teams in need of size, and the Celtics could be highlighted to match a quality offering. Tillman, who was acquired midseason, may have a cooler market, but the Celtics will still have to spend money to bring him back. Getting a full camp with Boston could help Tillman further spread his wings here.
The Celtics also have a $2.2 million team option on Neemias Queta, who transferred on a two-way deal late in the 2023-24 season.
Rounding out the grid
The Celtics are further limited to minimum contracts to fill out their roster. Svi Mykhailiuk could return to a minimum deal. The Celtics may be considering the future of two-way players JD Davison and Drew Petersen.
Championship-chasing veterans should be intrigued by Boston’s situation. On the other end of the spectrum, youngsters like Walsh and Jaden Springer ($4 million on the books next season) could get a better shot at deep roles.
The balloon-shaped cap puts more pressure on Stevens to hit in the draft. Developing players for title teams isn’t easy, but Boston hopes players can get the reps they need in Maine.
The Celtics have the 30th pick in Wednesday’s draft. The natural tendency is to suggest the team should have “the best big man available,” but Boston has routinely prioritized the best player available.
Decisions come faster than you might think. The champagne has barely dried and there is work to be done for the Celtics to bring back much of this championship season’s roster.
