Should they stay, or should they go? A primer on the Boston Celtics looming offseason

USA Today

25-05-2025

Should they stay, or should they go? A primer on the Boston Celtics looming offseason
Which current Boston Celtics will likely be on the roster next season, and which may end up elsewhere? The speculation surrounding the future of the Celtics started earlier than expected for most fans of the team, due in large part to injuries to several key players in their 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals second round series vs. the New York Knicks. Add in the fact that Boston will have new ownership and a historic payroll and tax bill, and it seems all but certain at least some significant changes will be coming soon.
The Celtics front office now needs to thread the needle of getting cheap enough in the short term to make an impact on the affordability of maintaining a roster capable of contention once stars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are back to their elite selves again with deciding which players will accomplish those goals without giving up too many resources. And there is always the chance that Tatum or Brown never quite return to the heights they were at before injury, or that an offer for one of them is too good to pass on, radically transforming the calculus of team building across the board.
To try to get a handle on which players are more or less likely from this year's roster to return, the Celtic Wire took a player-by-player magnifying glass to the 2024-25 roster. Let's take a look at everyone who was on it as of their last game in the 2025 NBA Playoffs, excluding two way players while working our way up the salary hierarchy.
Torrey Craig
A future free agent currently in his age 34 season, Craig managed to do what he was supposed to for Boston -- namely, eat some minutes on the wing without being a liability on either end of the court. He also left a bit to be desired in such a role, putting up 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds a game, with little else to speak of.
Future salary: None - $1,046,289 in '24-25
Prediction: Signs elsewhere as Boston uses the slot to absorb a contract or cycle through talent for the future
Jordan Walsh
Walsh did not find a role with the team last season, but if you squinted, you could see the sort of role he might play in the future. Part of the reason he developed little is a lack of opportunity apart from the Maine Celtics, which he may have next season. Still just 21 years old, Walsh has done enough to have his mettle tested with regard to Boston's future before they make any decisions about whether to hang on or cut bait.
Future salary: $2,221,677 ('25-26); $2,406,205 ('26-27) - both team option
Prediction: Returns for a development-focused season, but could be cut for cap savings in a pinch
JD Davison
It is important to remember how young, like Walsh, Davison still is. Just 22, the Alabama native still has time to develop into a rotation player. The 2025 G League MVP might also have appeal in a trade for that reason, but with an unguaranteed deal, also could be a cap casualty depending on how the offseason goes.
Future salary: $2,270,735 - team option
Prediction: Cut, then re-signed on a cheaper, multi-year deal
Neemias Queta
Even if he did not have guaranteed money, Queta showed enough growth last season to keep around. And with Boston likely thin up front, he should get the sort of run he will need to make a decision about his longer-term future with the team.
Future salary: $2,349,578 ('25-26); $2,667,944 ('26-27 - team option)
Prediction: Returns, carves out a role as a bit better than a third center, but not quite the second
Xavier Tillman Sr.
The Tillman experiment did not exactly go as planned, but it is unclear how much of his issues were caused by confidence in his shot, and how much was due to his being hurt much of the season. He's on a guaranteed deal and would compete with Queta for floor time, which the Portuguese big seems better-positioned to earn.
Future salary: $2,546,675 ('25-26)
Prediction: Returns, ends up the de facto third center, and perhaps rehabs his value with some luck
Baylor Scheierman
The now-second year wing is in line for a major uptick in minutes and opportunity given the team outlook on injuries, trades, and free agency. He flashed signs of being able to truly become a part of the rotation late last season, and we expect him to make that step. It might not come as early or evenly as some might hope, but we think he'll fill the bigger shoes well with some patience Boston may have little choice but to grant him.
Future salary: $2,619,000 ('25-26); $2,744,040 ('26-27 - team option); $4,952,992 ('27-28 - team option); $7,924,787 ('28-29 qualifying offer)
Prediction: Remains with the team, and plays about 15-20 minutes per game
Luke Kornet
Kornet again played bigger than his paycheck, and as an unrestricted free agent, has real potential to be poached by a league in need of competent big play. But if he stays, he may have a major or even starting role for Boston next season -- could he parlay that into an even bigger payday as his prime inches towards ending at age 29?
Future salary: None - $2,800,834 in '24-25
Prediction: Stays for around $5-7 million for a single season, but could leave if the offer was right
Al Horford
Given how well he played last season and how competitive he is, we would not be shocked to see a team steal Horford away for another run at a ring. But the Florida alum has also made it clear how much he loves playing for Boston in the recent past, so we think it more likely than not he comes back in some capacity if no offer he can't refuse is tendered.
Future salary: None - $9,500,000 in '24-25
Prediction: Returns with whatever Boston can offer him above the minimum if not poached
Payton Pritchard
Pritchard had a Sixth Man of the Year season, and might never see his value as a trade chip higher. But a decent amount of that value is baked into his contract, a league-leading value, for a team that will desperately need his production, especially if moves up the cap structure open up more backcourt minutes. That, in turn, could push his value to Boston and as a trade option, still higher.
Future salary: $7,232,143 ('25-26); $7,767,857 ('26-27); $8,303,571 ('27-28)
Prediction: Remains with the team, tries on a starter role for a full season
Sam Hauser
While last season was a clear step back for Hauser, emphasis should be placed on 'back,' as an injury to it likely messed with his shot from deep in the regular season, and perhaps in confidence in the playoffs. But he also defended more consistently throughout the course of the season, and could be in high demand given his salary fits into mid-level exceptions in a cap-starved league landscape.
Future salary: $10,044,644 ('25-26); $10,848,215 ('26-27); $11,651,785 ('27-28); $12,455,356 ('28-29)
Prediction: Sent out for draft asset(s) unless a multi-team deal for one of Kristaps Porzingis or Jrue Holiday eliminates the need (more on this shortly)
Derrick White
As is the case with several teammates, his value to Boston -- and as a trade option -- has never been higher, and is on a good value contract. But he will also be critical to the Celtics next season for helping to generate offense in Jayson Tatum's absence and future contention plans, so it would likely take a serious overpay to steal away the Colorado native.
Future salary: $28,100,000 ('25-26); $30,348,000 ('26-27); $32,596,000 ('27-28); $34,844,000 ('28-29)
Prediction: Remains with the team, makes his first All-Star team as a reserve
Kristaps Porzingis
His value after another postseason that saw him largely unable to suit up and impact winning has definitely taken a hit, but pending how his gig playing for the Latvian National Team this summer goes, could rebound a bit with luck. And on an expiring deal of some size, he may be the most likely candidate to move, given he has real if limited upside with no long-term risk and cap relief potential baked in.
Future salary: $30,731,707 ('25-26)
Prediction: Traded for cap relief
Jrue Holiday
Holiday remains one of the NBA's best perimeter defenders. His game on the other side of the court has shown some cracks, but it also had to coexist with several higher priorities on the court in Boston's rotations most nights. His long, not-cheap contract is worth pausing to think about, but given most teams won't have windows to contend beyond its length anyway, may matter less to another team than it likely does to Boston.
Future salary: $32,400,000 ('25-26); $34,800,000 ('26-27); $37,200,000 ('27-28 - player option)
Prediction: Traded for cap relief and a rotation player, perhaps requiring draft assets for a solid player return
Jaylen Brown
We don't yet know whether surgery will be required for his partially torn meniscus, nor how long he will be out if so. We expect Boston to use depth spots to look for talent either way, but a long recovery for Brown could signal a mini-tank for the Celtics next season. If he can play before mid-December, Boston might be a sneaky-good playoff team despite all they are going through. Watch the prognosis for clues to what the team may choose for a direction. There's a chance a massive offer steals him away, but we think it very unlikely.
Future salary: $53,142,264 ('25-26); $57,078,728 ('26-27); $61,015,192 ('27-28); $64,951,656 ('28-29)
Prediction: Remains with the team, gets a feel for leading the team solo, posts career assist numbers
Jayson Tatum
The linchpin of it all, how and when Boston feels the St. Louis native returns could see anything from minor moves to save money to a total rebuild. That said, it seems more likely than not the former is much more likely of an outcome than the latter, but in today's post-Luka-Doncic-in-Dallas era, anything is on the table. We expect him to push to return next season, and to be close to his old self, given all we have heard about the injury, the surgery, and his age.
Future salary: $54,126,380 ('25-26); $58,456,490 ('26-27); $62,786,601 ('27-28); $67,116,711 ('28-29)
Prediction: Returns to the court for Boston in '26-27, but agitates to return late in '25-26