The Boston Celtics are gearing up for the 2024-25 season, aiming to win another championship.
Team Stability and Roster Changes:
This summer, Brad Stevens focused on keeping key players around for the long haul, which makes them favorites to win again according to DraftKings. Only Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk left the team this offseason. Their departure has left a gap in wing depth on the bench.
Joe Mazzulla has plenty of talent in his main rotation, but replacing Brissett and Mykhailiuk hasn’t been easy. Baylor Scheierman was drafted as a new wing player but struggled during preseason games. He might spend most of his time with the Maine Celtics in the G League instead.
Filling Roster Spots:
With just one open spot left on the roster, Stevens needs to find reliable backups for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Sam Hauser. Lonnie Walker IV could be a good fit, but his $11M price tag might make the team hesitate since he’d be a backup player.
Fans think it’s important to balance cost with potential performance when adding new players.
Right now, the Celtics are at a $3.75 tax multiplier for every $1 spent. Keeping Walker would nudge them to the next bracket and put them at a $4.25 tax multiplier for every $1 spent.
For Walker, who would be on the vet minimum of about $2.1M, that would be an additional tax hitโฆ
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA)
Luxury Tax Concerns:
The Celtics face high luxury tax penalties as they are already in a costly tax bracket. Adding Walker would increase their tax burden even more. It might be smarter financially to leave a roster spot open and sign someone later in the season when itโs cheaperโthough by then, top free agents could be gone.
Brissett brought energy and defense last year; re-signing him could help fill current gaps since he remains unsigned after testing free agency post-championship win.
Final Thoughts on Team Depth:
Whoever gets added likely wonโt play major minutes but having extra support is crucial if injuries or other issues arise. Last season’s deep roster was key to success; making wise choices now can keep that advantage alive this year too.
