The Boston Celtics finally climbed the mountain and won their 18th championship. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had been so close over the last seven years but always fell short. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens made some key moves to push them over the top and has the franchise set up to stay in contention for years to come.
Boston should enjoy this championship. It nudged them ahead of the Lakers for most in NBA history and was hard-earned, but there is not much time for the front office to celebrate. The draft starts on June 26 and free agency opens on June 30. The Celtics cannot just stand pat and expect to repeat as champions.
Boston faces the spending restrictions that come with the new second tax apron. Still, they should attempt to upgrade their roster. Signing a few key minimum contracts in free agency is a must, but the Celtics should also look to add via trade. These current Celtics are the most likely to be dealt this offseason.
5. Jaden Springer
The Celtics gave up the 41st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to get Springer before the deadline. It was a bit of a surprising move. Philadelphia was eager to clear as much cap space as possible for this summer, but Boston’s reasoning is unclear.
The 21-year-old averaged just 7.6 minutes per game over 17 regular season contests and played 22 total postseason minutes in their championship run. The Celtics did not give him much chance to prove himself and have another decision to make.
Springer is entering the final year of his contract at $4.0 million. Does Boston try to trade him? He is making slightly more than the minimum, and the Celtics cannot take back more money than they receive in a trade. Springer’s deal could allow Brad Stevens and the front office to upgrade, but finding someone making less isn't easy.