The Celtics had a couple of objectives that flew in the face of each other this offseason: they wanted to stay under the luxury tax, and they also wanted to re-sign their extension-eligible players. And, impressively enough, Brad Stevens was able to accomplish both of those goals this summer.
They’ve filled out the roster with 14 players while staying just $1.7 million below the tax line, so they could potentially add a 15th player on a minimum contract at some point if they want to (they don’t have to).
They also managed to work out team-friendly extensions for Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh after picking up their team options for this season. That means that both players will play out this season on the minimum, the last year of their current deals, while their new extensions will start in the 2027-28 season.
Celtics worked out team-friendly extensions for Walsh and Queta
Queta broke out last season as the Celtics’ starting center, having a great season and emerging as one of the better big men in the league. Walsh also had a breakout season, becoming a prominent defensive stopper with some 3&D wing potential going forward.
Neither player has ever made more than a couple of million dollars in a season, so Boston was able to use that leverage to get them to agree to new deals by locking them in a year early. Now, the Celtics have Queta locked up on a four-year, $56 million deal that will keep him in Boston until the end of the 2030-31 season, taking up roughly 8% of the salary cap.
For Walsh, the deal was even sweeter, as he was signed for three years and $15 million, which will run through the 2029-30 season. So now, the team is well set up to stay below the tax this season, which is important because it will be the second season in a row for Boston, which allows them to reset the repeater tax.
Celtics have created flexibility going forward
Starting next season, they can start spending again, as they’ve already started to do via these extensions, while paying a normal tax rate and having full access to trade draft picks or use any other assets at their disposal. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are going to immediately jump back into the second apron or splurge on another supermax contract.
But if they do want to go that route, they could, as they’ll have any and all options on the table. It’s not the sexiest part of the NBA, but it’s certainly an important one to be able to manage the team’s finances, and Brad and his crew have done an excellent job of it recently.Â
This summer will be defined by the Jaylen Brown trade for better or worse, but outside of that blockbuster, the Celtics executed a lot of brilliant business that has positioned them very well for the future.
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