Celtic rumor: Deal prospects around Porzingis and Holiday get positive updates

During the offseason, much of the discussion around the Boston Celtics focused on whether they needed to cut their wages. Jason Tatum may miss the entire 2025-26 season as a new boss takes over, and there is little reason for them to stay on the second line, which will bring severe punishment.

Nevertheless, Jack Fisher said Boston doesn't operate like a team that "rushes" to cut salaries.

"There were a lot of rumors among competitors during the NBA Draft United Week in Chicago last month that potential suitors of Christapus Porzingis or Ju Holiday want the Celtics to attach some form of extra compensation in exchange for their willingness to reclaim those contracts. Such strong rumors have begun to fade," Fischer wrote. "Boston certainly wants a salary cut to reduce luxury tax spending and avoid becoming the second pick, but league sources say the Celtics are confident in the mid-June deal and believe they can reach a deal that brings positive value to Boston."

Holiday and Porzingis are considered the most likely Celtic players to be cut.

Celtics are not in a hurry to cut their salary after the disappointing end of the 2024-25 season. Porzingis is easier to trade among the two due to a $30.7 million expiration contract. Holiday is even harder to trade because his contract amount in the next three seasons is as high as $104.4 million.

It is rumored that the Brooklyn Nets are a reasonable trading target. They are the only team in the NBA that expects to have a cap space that can absorb Holiday or Porzingis without Boston taking back any salary. However, Nets general manager Sean Max may demand a draft pick in exchange.

After a disappointing 2024-25 season, the Celtics seem to believe their veterans can still offer positive deal value. Holiday's statistics have declined in his 34-year-old season. He averaged 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game, shooting 44.3% from the field and 35.3% from three-pointers.

Meanwhile, a mysterious disease disrupted Porzingis's season plan. The seven-foot player remained active throughout the playoffs, but performed very poorly, averaging 21 minutes per game, scoring 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 32% from the field (15% from three-pointers) and 69%.

Boston is not in a hurry to decide the future of Holiday or Porzingis.

"[Celtics] have also made some opponent teams feel that a series of trades may be coming, which may begin in the offseason and may even last until the season's trade deadline... For example, trading Porzingis' $30.7 million contract for a lower salary, and then trying to cut costs again before the February trade deadline," Fischer wrote.

The Celtics are most likely to lower their salary sometime before the trade deadline, bringing their salary space below the second line. Whether they can do this without attaching any assets remains to be seen.