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Celtics Expected to Make Another Trade After New Comments From Executive

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt John | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 7:15 PM ET

The Boston Celtics' priorities were already apparent before making the trades they did. Because they wanted to get under the NBA's second tax apron, the Celtics were willing to downgrade some of their players to get under it.

That's why the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and Kristaps Porzingis for Georges Niang. It is a talent downgrade, but it helped Boston achieve their goals of getting under the second apron, even if those players aren't as good as Holiday or Porzingis.

However, those trades only helped Boston get closer to being under the NBA's second tax apron, but it didn't get them under completely. Boston signed a few more players this offseason, including Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and Hugo Gonzalez. While these players are on inexpensive contracts, combined, they are enough to keep the Celtics above the NBA's second tax apron.

That's why Boston isn't done making moves. Spotrac's Keith Smith revealed in an interview with a Boston Celtics executive that more trades will follow because they are still above the NBA's second tax apron.

“Still figuring it all out. As you’ve noted, we’re still above the second apron. We won’t finish there," the Celtics exec told Smith.

NBA Summer League is a bit about watching basketball and a lot about talking to people around the NBA about basketball.
For @spotrac I emptied out half of my SL notebook. Here are notes from executives, coaches & scouts for all 15 Eastern Conference teams!https://t.co/P4zchFOk7f
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 21, 2025

As far as how the Celtics will do that is anyone's guess. They may trade Anfernee Simons for someone who makes less than him. They may trade Niang's contract to a team that can absorb it via trade exception. They may even trade Sam Hauser or Payton Pritchard to do it. Regardless, more moves are coming for the Celtics.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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