Three players Celtics could trade this summer

The Boston Celtics are in for a busy summer and Brad Stevens must make some tough decisions. Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon injury means that the current roster and associated cost have become untenable. 

As such, multiple members of Boston's rotation could be heading to new teams before next season starts. The idea is to duck below the second luxury tax apron and potentially begin retooling with a younger, more athletic roster for when Tatum returns. 

With that in mind, here are three Celtics who are most likely to be moved. 

No. 1 Kristaps Porzingis 

Outside of his mind-blowing performance in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, Porzingis has been a playoff disappointment for the Celtics. He rarely saw the court during his team's march to a championship last season and was anonymous during their ill-fated title defense. 

Porzingis's inability to stay healthy means he's likely to be among the first players out the door. He is entering the final year of his current contract, so even though his value is low, there should be multiple teams willing to take him off Boston's hands. 

No. 2 Jrue Holiday 

Holiday just turned 34, will be at least 36 by the time the Celtics are ready to begin contending again and dealt with a string of minor injuries this season. Once you factor in the $33.6 million he earns in average annual value, it's clear that Boston would be smart to move him in the summer. Unlikely Porzingis, Holiday was among the best players on the Celtics roster during the postseason, and would likely net the franchise a decent return in any deal. 

No. 3 Jaylen Brown 

This option is the most controversial. Brown is an All-Star forward, an Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP and, when healthy, one of the best three-level scoring forwards in the the league. However, Brown has been dealing with knee issues for multiple years. He's also on a supermax contract that is widely seen as an overpay. At 28 years old, Brown is in his prime. 

By trading Brown, the Celtics could save a significant amount of cap space and likely receive a solid return of young players and draft picks. However, Stevens would need to weigh the potential fan reaction with the upside of making such a deal. Nevertheless, Brown's position with the Celtics could come into question this summer.