Celtics Predicted to Trade One of Remaining Stars After Jayson Tatum Injury

With the Boston Celtics projected to enter a gap year with Jayson Tatum on the shelf for a torn Achilles, they are expected to make significant changes in the roster.

Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale predicts the Celtics would trade one of their top two remaining stars outside of Tatum.

“Unrestricted free agent Al Horford, along with Sam Hauser, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday are the names most commonly identified as possible collateral damage,” Favale wrote. “Boston’s financial gymnastics will go beyond them, impacting at least one of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.”

There are four years left on Brown’s five-year, $305 million supermax deal, while White’s four-year, $125 million extension kicks in next season.

The Celtics’ new ownership inherits a team that is facing a staggering $500 million payroll, including luxury tax penalties next season. Without Tatum, the Celtics are not projected to be a title contender next season, hence, it makes sense to get under the aprons and re-tool in preparation for Tatum’s return after next season.

“Brown and White will generate the most interest, and by extension, the most possible savings. Moving one of them feels nuclear, but remember, this isn’t just about a single gap year,” Favale wrote.

Their other veterans who are rumored to be on the trade block have little to negative trade values.

While Tatum could return for the 2026-27 season, there’s no guarantee he would return to his top form.

Kevin Durant is an exceptional story of a player who recovered from Achilles injury. But there was also Klay Thompson, who was a shell of himself when he returned from nearly two years of layoff because of the same injury.

With uncertainty surrounding Tatum, paying the exorbitant luxury tax for a middling team without him does not make sense.

Jayson Tatum Injury Emboldens Other Teams

Tatum’s absence next season has emboldened other teams to lure the Celtics to part ways with their remaining stars.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on June 11 that the Celtics are “one hundred percent” receiving big trade offers for Brown and White.

“However, now are teams making big offers and calling about Jaylen Brown and Derrick White? One hundred percent,” Charania said. “The Celtics prefer not to trade them, from my understanding, but listen, if they get a big offer, they have to look at everything. And I think they’re going to get, you know, offers on the three guys that they’re focused on. They’re going to get offers potentially on Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. And I think between now and the draft and free agency, they’re going to evaluate what makes sense from a value perspective.”

Trading Brown will certainly not sit well with the Celtics fan base unless they get a bigger star in return like Giannis Antetokounmpo. But trading White for salary cap relief and future assets might be more palatable to the fans. White will be 32 when Tatum returns.

Jaylen Brown on Spurs’ Radar

The Spurs held off to their assets and did not push for a Durant trade because they have their eyes on a younger talent.

One of them is Brown, according to Brett Siegel of Clutchpoints.

“Other than a potential trade for Giannis in the future, the Spurs have also monitored Jaylen Brown’s status with the Boston Celtics through the years, sources said. Now that the Boston Celtics are primed to take a step back and are looking to cut costs, the 28-year-old Finals MVP is suddenly worth talking about,” Siegel wrote.