How experts are grading the Celtics offseason
With their franchise cornerstone likely sidelined for the year, the Celtics prioritized long-term financial flexibility over short-term contention, moving on from veterans Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday in cost-cutting deals.
Experts across the league agree: while the front office made smart moves to avoid the second apron and retain future assets, the roster took a significant hit in talent and depth—especially in the frontcourt.
ESPN
Grade: C
The upside is the Celtics managed to balance their books without giving up any future first-round picks, getting under the second apron with a plausible path to avoiding the tax altogether in a gap year following Jayson Tatum's Achilles rupture. The downside is Boston shed a massive amount of talent, including everyone taller than 6-foot-8 who played at least 13 minutes in the 2025 playoffs. The Celtics will be challenged to replenish their frontcourt depth and, crucially, the versatility lost with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. — Kevin Pelton
Pro Football Network
Grade: C
The Boston Celtics entered the 2025 offseason reeling from a heartbreaking playoff exit and a devastating Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum, who had been delivering some of the best basketball of his career. With Tatum expected to miss most, if not all, of the upcoming season, Boston's championship aspirations took a significant hit.
The front office, led by Brad Stevens, responded by executing bold moves to reset the roster and regain financial flexibility for future runs.
The Celtics parted ways with veterans Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, moves primarily driven by the financial pressures of the league's second apron and looming luxury tax penalties. In return, Boston acquired Anfernee Simons, a scoring guard with upside, and Georges Niang, a versatile role player.
Additional roster depth came in the draft with the selection of Spain's Hugo González, whose athleticism and international experience make him a promising project, though his immediate impact remains uncertain. The team also brought in Luka Garza and Josh Minott to bolster the frontcourt, but neither is projected to be a game-changer this season.
Boston should remain competitive with defensive standout Derrick White and All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown still on the roster. However, there are valid concerns about the team's short-term depth, especially in the frontcourt, and its overall ceiling without Tatum.
Bleacher Report
Grade: C
The cost-cutting talent drain was probably on the table before Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in the playoffs, but that deeply unfortunate injury made the Boston Celtics' demolition inevitable.
Knowing there was no sense in spending $500 million in payroll and tax on a Tatum-less roster that couldn't contend, the Celtics shipped off Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday, netting Anfernee Simons from the Portland Trail Blazers for the latter.
Boston is now under the second apron and could duck the tax if it finds a taker for Simons' expiring $28 million salary at the trade deadline.
None of this has been any fun for Celtics fans, who are probably experiencing whiplash with a championship and a teardown separated by 13 months. But Boston had to do this. The costs and restrictions associated with keeping the roster together were too great, particularly in the wake of a Tatum injury that might keep him from returning to full form until 2027. — Grant Hughes
USA Today
Grade: C+
They absolutely needed to shed salary to prevent apron triggers, so trading Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Holiday had to happen. Anfernee Simons is a nice player in return, and No. 28 overall selection Hugo González is an intriguing project at guard, but can Boston say it is better now? That's magnified significantly with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) expected to miss the entire season. — Lorenzo Reyes & Jeff Zilligitt
Read the original article on MassLive.
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