Rebuilding for the Future: The Celtics Disastrous End Leads to Summer Changes

The 2025 NBA Playoffs saw the Boston Celtics' hopes for a three-peat come to an abrupt end on May 16th, as they were defeated by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite a promising season, the defending champions fell into a 3-1 hole against the Knicks and lost Jayson Tatum to a ruptured right Achilles tendon in Game 4. Tatum's co-star on the Celtics, Jaylen Brown, was the only player who could make a basket for Boston, as the rest of the team shot a combined 35%. The loss was a devastating blow for the Celtics, who were among the three betting favorites to win this year's title. However, they suffered the same fate as the league's previous five defending champions, losing in the second round. The Celtics blew back-to-back 20-point leads in Games 1 and 2 at home to the Knicks, and while they won Game 3 in New York, they blew a 14-point lead in Game 4. The loss was compounded by Tatum's injury, which could cost him the entirety of next season and ripple throughout the organization. In the days following Tatum's injury, the Celtics expended what was left of their emotional energy in Game 5. They had nothing left for Game 6, folding under the weight of offseason unease. The Celtics owe more than $250 million in salary to a dozen players next season, according to Spotrac, and almost as much in luxury taxes. A new team owner, Bill Chisholm, is on the hook for that price tag. Chisholm's ownership of the Celtics is now under scrutiny. With Tatum's injury likely meaning a championship is off the table next season too, Chisholm will have to decide whether to cut costs or make some moves to improve the team's financial flexibility. It could mean trading big men Al Horford and Luke Kornet or trading Sam Hauser's four-year, $45 million extension. Every dollar out the door could be as much as five times that in savings. Jrue Holiday is owed $104 million over the next three seasons and will be 37 years old at the end of that contract. Payton Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is among the best values in the NBA and could be traded for a better bargain or a non-guaranteed contract that can be wiped from the books entirely. Kristaps Porziņģis is slated to begin next season on a $30.7 million expiring contract but has been largely prevented from contributing due to injuries and illness. Trading Porziņģis for a better bargain could be an option. While these moves would not make the Celtics a better team next season, they would increase their financial flexibility to reconstruct a contender for when Tatum returns healthy in 2026-27. The Celtics will be led by Brown, who will have to shoulder more of the load next season as they look to rebuild and compete for a championship once again.