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Celtics Most Likely to Trade $134 Million All-Star This Summer in Wake of Tatum Injury

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Jun 21, 2025 1:53 PM ET

The Boston Celtics are looking at taking a step (or two) back next season in a semi-teardown/rebuild of a roster that is set to be among the most expensive in NBA history.

Boston was probably already looking at parting ways with at least one of its prominent stars this summer, even if the franchise was able to repeat as champions. That didn't happen, however, and the team's premier performer in Jayson Tatum was lost to an Achilles injury in Round 2 of the playoffs that could sideline him for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign.

Tatum's absence from the lineup doesn't necessarily preclude the Celtics from a playoff appearance next season, particularly in a relatively weak Eastern Conference. However, title contention is a long shot for Boston sans its best player -- a reality likely to be compounded by the departure of at least one, if not two, star-level players via trade this offseason.

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report on Saturday, June 21, dubbed $134.4 million two-way guard Jrue Holiday, a two-time NBA All-Star, as the most likely player to move this summer.

"Everyone outside of the injured Jayson Tatum is on the negotiating table as the Boston Celtics inevitably look to trim the $25-plus million required to duck out of the second apron. Jrue Holiday’s remaining contract ... is simultaneously the toughest to move and most likely to go," Favale wrote. "Having just turned 35, the backcourt defensive ace isn’t going to be part of the next great Celtics team. ... Holiday will be entering his age-37 campaign by the time this team is anywhere close to whole again."

Center Kristaps Porzingis is perhaps the second-most likely candidate for Boston to move this offseason. He was a crucial addition to the Celtics' title team in 2024-25 but was not as effective during the following campaign, in part due to a lingering illness that hampered him down the stretch of the regular season and throughout the playoffs.

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

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