Celtics Trim Payroll While Blazers Pick Up Options; 14 Teams Projected Over Tax Line
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Boston — Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the organization began planning a payroll reset even before Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tear in last season’s second round, aiming to drop below the NBA’s second tax apron for greater long-term flexibility.
“What we were staring at was a bill like no one has ever stared at,” Stevens told The Athletic. “Our owners have always been willing to spend, but it made sense to retool. Once you’re over those aprons, you lose flexibility.”
Boston has since moved Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, while Al Horford and Luke Kornet departed in free agency. Despite still residing above the luxury-tax threshold, the Celtics enter the new season comfortably below the second apron, giving the front office wider trade options. Stevens called the summer “not the most fun,” but said the reshuffle was necessary to remain competitive around a young core.
Trail Blazers Lock In Young Core
Portland exercised rookie-scale options on three building blocks, securing Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and Kris Murray through the 2026-27 campaign. Henderson’s fourth-year option is valued at $13.6 million, Clingan’s third-year at $7.5 million and Murray’s fourth-year at $5.3 million.
Henderson, the 2023 No. 3 pick, averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 assists before a hamstring tear ended his second season. Clingan (6.5 points, 7.9 rebounds) is slated for a larger role following Deandre Ayton’s exit, while Murray remains a key defensive piece as he develops offensively. With recent extensions for Toumani Camara and Shaedon Sharpe, Portland now has all principal young players under contract for at least two more seasons.
League-Wide Cap Picture
ESPN’s Bobby Marks projects 14 teams to open the season as taxpayers, though that figure could change before February’s trade deadline. The Raptors, Nuggets and Suns sit just above the tax line and may consider minor moves to dip below.
Spotrac’s Keith Smith also released a team-by-team breakdown of current positions relative to the salary cap, first and second aprons, and tax thresholds.
Source: Hoops Wire
