Boston Celtics fans are praying Brad Stevens refuses to take a page from Nico Harrison’s playbook and trade their superstar without warning to avoid the dreaded second tax apron. Shams Charania noted Boston will make significant changes this offseason and the entire NBA is gearing up for a summer filled with trades. Most believe Jrue Holiday will be the Celtic sent packing as Boston attempts to cut their spending, but everything is on the table as Jayson Tatum recovers from Achilles surgery.
Stevens has several difficult decisions to make this summer. Boston wants to get out of the second apron to create flexibility, but that means further depleting their roster. Tatum likely misses the entire 2025-26 season. Letting more talent out the door may force Boston into taking a gap year as Tatum recovers.
Could Stevens surprise everyone and trade away one of his superstars? Tatum would still have a strong market, even while sidelined recovering from Achilles surgery. Jaylen Brown is also a top 25 player in the world. Nico Harrison did not wait for a trade request or turbulence. He just sent Luka Doncic packing just months after the Mavericks lost to Boston in the NBA Finals. Stevens may consider a similar heartbreaking strategy.
Brad Stevens may infuriate Celtics fans by dumping a superstar
The Celtics would be looking for a similar deal to the one Dallas swung for Luka. They could trade their superstar for another star and some draft capital. Boston would hope to get some financial flexibility in the deal too.
Celtics fans want Tatum and Brown to be lifetime members of the franchise, but the NBA is a cutthroat business in the second apron era. This may be Boston’s chance to compete in 2026 and add new ways to improve their roster.
Everything is on the table. The Celtics are already $19.9 million over the second tax apron next season without new deals for Al Horford, Luke Kornet, and Torrey Craig. Even three minimum contracts would push them to a historic payroll and luxury tax bill. Boston has to make moves or let the restrictions tighten. With Tatum out, there is no sense in paying that tab and facing the penalties.
Teams will be calling about Tatum and Brown. It may not be Brad Stevens's ideal move, but who knows what the opposition might offer, especially in an era where trading is the easiest avenue to making significant upgrades.
Fans would be gutted to see Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown traded, but it could become reality this summer. Tatum would net a massive haul, even while recovering from Achilles surgery, and opposing teams did not forget Brown won Finals MVP in 2024. The Celtics could get a massive haul and retool their roster completely.
It would take a godfather offer, but one may come. The title race is wide open and several teams want to maximize their odds. Brad Stevens will consider everything. This would be a wild move, but Nico Harrison just proved anything is possible by trading Luka Doncic in his prime without shopping him. Boston Celtics fans hope they are not the next ones dealing with this heartbreak, but only time will tell what Stevens and the front office make reality. Trading a superstar is not the answer, ask Mavs fans.
