Even after winning a ring last season, the trials never seem to end for the Boston Celtics. As it stands, general manager Brad Stevens revealed how the salary cap has made it challenging to keep the same lineup intact.
The Celtics have reportedly reached a groundbreaking agreement with star forward Jayson Tatum for a five-year, $315 million supermax extension, marking the largest contract in NBA history. This deal, confirmed by journalist Chris Haynes, includes a player option and will begin in the 2025-26 season.
As Tatum’s current contract runs through 2024-25, where he will earn approximately $34.8 million, the Celtics’ payroll for that season is projected to be about $208.6 million. However, with Tatum’s extension taking effect, the team’s salary cap will surge to an estimated $254.3 million in 2025-26, potentially making them the most expensively built team in league history.
The Celtics enjoyed an impressive previous season, securing their 18th championship by winning a total of 80 games. Tatum and fellow superstar Jaylen Brown, who signed a five-year, $303.7 million extension last season, are pivotal to the team’s success as they aim for a dynasty. With high payroll commitments for the next few years, including a total of $250.1 million in 2026-27 and $220.9 million in 2027-28, the Celtics are investing heavily in their championship window, showcasing their commitment to winning.
Boston Celtics General Manager Brad Stevens Shares Reality About Salary Cap Challenges
Signing Tatum to a massive contract may have limited Boston’s financial position in latter seasons. According to an article posted by Real GM, Stevens shared the difficulty of building a team amid the salary cap challenges.
“What we want to do is try to get our guys locked in on fair and good extensions that they feel really good about and hopefully continue this thing as long as we can continue this thing,” Stevens said.
“We’ll cross every bridge when we get there, and the different basketball penalties that will be associated with being above the second apron, those are real, and we’ll just have to weigh those against where we are as a basketball team, and we’ll also have to weigh the financial part of that. And I’m sure part of that will be a discussion amongst whoever the new investors are.”
The Celtics have a nearly intact roster from their championship-winning season, retaining 13 of 15 players. They are projected to be over the salary cap, potentially fielding the most expensive roster in NBA history by 2025-26.
With most of last year’s lineup retained, Boston has a chance to replicate their previous championship run. If they succeed, all the money they spent will prove to be right as long as it produces another ring for Beantown.
For More Great Basketball Content
Follow me on Twitter at @BeatKit22 and follow us @HardwoodHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional sports, click here!
