Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear has not only jeopardized the Boston Celtics’ playoff hopes but may also trigger a major roster shakeup.
Following the star forward’s season-ending injury in Game 4 against the Knicks, the defending champions now face elimination and mounting financial pressure.
NBA insider Marc J. Spears reported on SportsCenter that one league executive believes changes are coming regardless of the Celtics’ postseason outcome.
“Even before Tatum’s injury, in the first round there was an NBA executive from another team that told me that he expected major change with the Celtics no matter what happen in the season,” Spears said.
Boston has five players earning at least $28 million annually, including Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both on supermax deals worth over $50 million per year.
“I certainly expect such to be the case when you have a payroll where you have five players making at $28 million or more, two superstars that are making $50 million or more,” Spears added.
Spears specifically identified the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs as teams to monitor if Boston explores trading one or more core pieces.
“One is the Houston Rockets,” he said. “Why? Ime Udoka’s there, they’ve been certainly rumored to be wanting to upgrade their roster and he knows these guys and they probably would be attracted to returning to play with him.”
The Rockets, who secured the second seed in the West this season and reached Game 7 in the first round, are reportedly seeking roster upgrades.
Adding an All-Star caliber player from Boston would align with Houston’s accelerated competitive timeline and bolster their established young core.
San Antonio, meanwhile, holds the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft and has cap space and assets to pursue star talent.
“Another team is the San Antonio Spurs as well,” Spears noted. “They got the number two pick and I’m told that the Spurs are quite happy with the talent that’s available at number two, but they’re going to explore potentially trades as well.”
The Celtics, trailing 3-1 to New York in the East semifinals, would need to become just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome such a deficit.
With Tatum out for the entirety of the 2024–25 season following surgery, Boston’s championship window appears to be narrowing.
Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis remain under contract, but their combined salaries limit flexibility.
