Change has been a constant for the Boston Celtics this summer. After a series of second-apron-inspired moves, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and presumably Al Horford will be playing for new teams this season.
Boston’s desire to slip below the second-apron threshold and avoid the significant basketball penalties that accompany being overspenders has been well represented all offseason. As of today, Aug. 27, 2025, the Cs are $7.4 million below that line, but still float above the first apron by $4 million, and the luxury tax by $12 million.
Though avoiding either or both of those isn’t a must by any means, it sounds like the Celtics have still been interested in doing so.
It’s one of the main reasons why newly-acquired guard Anfernee Simons’ name has been so prominent in trade rumors. NBA Insider Brett Siegel reiterated as much in a recent newsletter for Clutchpoints.
"Since acquiring Simons, Boston has continued to put out feelers to teams that have shown past interest in the young guard to get a sense of what his market currently looks like and could shape up to be before the trade deadline in February, sources said,” Siegel wrote.
Simons’ $27 million salary for the upcoming season is by far the largest of any non-essential player on Boston’s roster. A move landing the Cs below the luxury tax threshold could be realistic if they find the right trade partner for the 26-year-old.
As expected, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard won't be going anywhere
There are other avenues that could land Boston beneath that line, but according to Siegel, they’re not all that interested in any of those.
“While it doesn't appear as if there is a trade on the horizon involving Simons before training camp, the Celtics have been aggressive in shedding cap space and salaries this summer. Simons is the next player on the market, as the organization holds no desire to move Payton Pritchard or Sam Hauser at this time."
Boston’s lack of desire to move Pritchard or Hauser shouldn’t come as a surprise. First and foremost, if you combined the pair’s salaries, you’d still be $10 million short of what Simons makes. So, he is the obvious candidate in any cost-cutting move.
Of course, then there’s the basketball piece of this puzzle. Both Hauser and Pritchard have been with the Celtics for years now and have proven to fit well within their system. Not to mention that they each had their moments during the team’s 2024 NBA Championship run.
It’s not super common in the NBA to have players who contribute at the level of Hauser and Pritcahrd on such team-friendly contracts. With how restrictive the newest CBA and its aprons have proven to be, keeping those deals on the books will make it far easier to roll out a competitive roster once Jayson Tatum recovers from his ruptured Achilles.
Again, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Simons is a goner; it just means that he’s the simplest solution to the team’s financial bind.