Brad Stevens’ Astute Business Sense Praised After Dumping $30 Million Kristaps Porzingis’ Salary

Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens had a task on his hands shedding salary and retooling the squad.

Brad Stevens’ Astute Business Sense Praised After Dumping $30 Million Kristaps Porzingis’ Salary

Brad Stevens and Kristaps Porzingis (Image via FirstSportz)

The Boston Celtics are facing a $500 million salary bill next season. Brad Stevens kickstarted that experiment, bringing Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to complement their starters and win NBA titles.

One title and one disappointing season later, the experiment is over. Jrue Holiday was the first out of the gates after being shipped to the Portland Trail Blazers. They get Anfernee Simons in return, but his expiring contract is easier to manage for the 2024 champions.

That move alone does not solve the massive tax bill the Celtics face. Then there are the severe restrictions a franchise faces when routinely breaching the second apron. The new ownership seemingly did not want to go down that route.

They also saw firsthand from the recently concluded NBA Finals that super teams are no longer the way to go. That brought them to the next stage of their salary dump, and Shams Charania revealed a deal involving Kristaps Porzingis.

BREAKING: Boston, Atlanta and Brooklyn are finalizing a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics.

Shams Charania wrote on X

This move will shed the Lithuanian’s $30.7 million salary for the 2025-26 season. Along with Holiday’s $32.6 million, the Celtics have shed $63.7 million in two moves. Despite absorbing Simons’ $27.6 million and Georges Niang’s $8.2 million salaries, the Celtics will dip under the second Apron.

Fans in awe as Brad Stevens pulls off back-to-back impressive moves

As soon as the 2024-25 season ended, basketball fans knew the Boston Celtics would be one of the most active teams in the league. Their $500 million wage bill was no joke. Many felt teams would take advantage of this and try to get the best out of the 2024 champions.

So far, that has not happened as Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens, has essentially received outstanding returns despite dumping two salaries, one an aging veteran, and one an oft-injured big man.

These moves give fans the impression that Stevens is one of the shrewdest operators in the league. Knowing what some other teams give out for mid-tier players, fans believe these moves prove the Celtics are at a different level. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Many desperate teams in the league tend to give up multiple 1st rounders for a mid-level player. Brad Stevens brought in two cheaper expiring contracts, knowing the 2025-26 season might not be the same with Jayson Tatum out.

Brad Stevens receives interest for Jaylen Brown

Despite making these moves, the Boston Celtics are still going to shell out a massive luxury tax bill. Knowing that next season might be a transition period for the 18-time NBA champions, Shams Charania revealed the team is listening to all possibilities.

Celtics' 2024 championship team blows up
Celtics’ 2024 championship team blows up (Image via Open Source/X)

There are multiple teams that have significant interest in Jaylen Brown. The contract is steep, but there are teams, especially in today’s NBA… It’s an arms race. Even if your team is meddling in the playoffs, you are trying to make a swing.

Shams Charania said on The Stephen A. Smith Show

Host Stephen A. Smith could not believe teams would be interested in Jaylen Brown, especially with that colossal $300 million contract. Charania made it clear that teams are looking to make moves that will help them push deep into the playoffs.

If that means they have to absorb massive contracts, so be it. ESPN’s Insider believes teams understand that last season’s playoff contenders will be stronger. Therefore, they have to make moves that help them elevate their game.

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