Five Celtics Trade Candidates Based On Shams Charania Intel

ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped a mini bomb Thursday that got Celtics fans in speculation territory.

The NBA insider reported on the “Pat McAfee Show” that NBA teams are eyeing major changes in Boston in the form of trades. That is due to the massive amount of salary the C’s are expected to take in and the luxury tax penalties that will come with it. The new collective bargaining agreement is aimed at even the playing field when it comes to spending, which, in practice, forces teams to be creative in managing their books.

Charania’s reporting should come as a surprise. After all, it’s reportedly part of the reason why the Grousbeck family wanted to sell their stake in the franchise, and why upcoming new owner Bill Chisholm could be a scapegoat if things don’t go well. But the report did raise the question: Who’s actually untouchable on the Celtics?

Opinions will vary, but I’m going with Jayson Tatum and Derrick White at the top of the list. Tatum is the true face of the franchise and the man makes the most money. There’s reporting that supports how much Boston loves White, but Joe Mazzulla also is effusive in his praise of the 30-year-old to the point of calling him one of the best point guard in the NBA.

You can probably guess who the trade candidates will be based on the untouchables, but let’s break down why they could be eligible to be dealt in the offseason.

Jaylen Brown
Here we go again. Boston’s financial situation likely will mean another summer of Brown trade reports, and they could surround a familiar name on the rumor mill: Kevin Durant. The Suns’ experiment turned into an abject failure, and they could be open to moving the 36-year-old, who will have one year left on his contract next season. Boston and Phoenix could work in a swap, where the Suns have an ideal partner for Devin Booker, and the Celtics will only have to deal with Durant’s $54 million cap hit for one season before his salary is off their books. This feels unlikely since Brown committed the prime of his career to the Celtics, and the dynamic of the team would change without a 1B next to Tatum.

Jrue Holiday
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens made the savvy move of trading for Holiday as the final piece of a championship roster. However, if the Celtics are keeping White, then Holiday would be the odd man out in the backcourt. The 34-year-old still is one of the best defenders in the NBA, but his offensive inconsistencies showed that age is catching up to him. The Celtics could make a timely decision and trade Holiday before his game starts falling off.

Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis will have one year left on his contract entering the 2025-26 season. Injuries remain a concern for the 29-year-old, but it’s obvious he helps the Celtics reach their true ceiling when healthy. However, the 2024 NBA playoff run also showed that Boston can get by without Porzingis. Similar to how the Minnesota Timberwolves sacrificed ceiling by trading Karl-Anthony Towns, it would make sense for the Celtics to trade Porzingis to elevate their frontcourt floor by continuing to develop young players like Neemias Queta.

Payton Pritchard
Pritchard has a team-friendly contract for the next three years after this season. But if Boston really was penny-pinching, the $6-8 million could matter for its budget. This season’s Sixth Man of the Year really increased his trade value and could be a starter for at least half of the league. He’s also proven to be a capable defender. And if J.D. Davison is ready for the NBA, the reigning G League MVP could serve as a budget version of Pritchard.

Sam Hauser
Similar to Davison, can Baylor Scheierman be the “we have Sam Hauser at home” player for the Celtics? That seemed to be the reason Boston selected Scheierman in the first round of the NBA draft last year, and he’s impressed in the moments he’s been called upon. Hauser’s next contract kicks in next season, and he’ll make $10-12 million through the four years of the deal. It’s a fair contract for the 27-year-old, but again, if the Celtics are watching the books, Hauser is a favorite to be moved.