The Boston Celtics have successfully navigated under the NBA’s newly implemented second apron tax threshold by trading away key veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
With those significant salary moves complete, the team remained quiet during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, despite being linked to potential trade conversations involving star players Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Leading up to the draft, multiple teams reportedly made inquiries and offers, particularly for Brown, with some of those offers coming from teams selecting within the top ten. However, no deals materialized.
When asked whether the Celtics might still be active in the trade market, NBA insider Shams Charania hinted that Boston’s roster maneuvering may not be completely over.
“Never say never,” Charania said. “Most of their heavy lifting is done. They got out of the second apron by shedding $180 million. The calls and interest is certainly still coming in for Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.”
Charania noted that while Boston has already made major financial adjustments, there are still potential paths for further movement.
Players like Sam Hauser and Anfernee Simons (who may be involved in separate trade scenarios) could be considered if the Celtics want to continue trimming salary and avoid the luxury tax altogether.
“There’s heavy interest in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White,” Charania continued, “but a very high price threshold if anyone wants them.”
Jaylen Brown is now entering the second year of his five-year, $285 million supermax contract extension, the richest deal in franchise history. Derrick White, coming off a breakout season, is about to begin the first year of his four-year, $118 million extension signed in 2024.
Despite the outside interest, Charania emphasized that Boston values both players highly and is not eager to move them.
“The preference is to not to trade them,” he said. “They’re key cogs of a championship team. But if you’re the Celtics, you have to at least listen. They’re listening. They have a high, high price threshold on both of those players.”
According to Charania, it would take a truly extraordinary offer to force Boston’s hand.
“I’m told it would have to take an offer that blows them out of the water to consider moving either of those players. We’ll see if any of those offers come. They’re going to continue to monitor calls.”
As things currently stand, Charania added that the likelihood of a Jaylen Brown trade has diminished now that the first round of the draft has concluded.
“It is more unlikely than likely,” he said.
In summary, while the Celtics are listening to interest and exploring all options to maintain financial flexibility, their intent remains to keep their core intact unless an offer too good to refuse emerges.
Celtics Require Offer 'That Blows Them Out Of The Water' To Trade Jaylen Brown, Derrick White https://t.co/bNgoWhjmyE
— RealGM (@RealGM) June 26, 2025
