The Surprising Team That Could Help the Boston Celtics Free Salary This Summer

It is well known that the Boston Celtics are going to have a very hectic offseason, with several players on the list of possible candidates to be traded due to their luxury tax situation. But things are about to get much more interesting after the departure of a former bigwig from the Boston front office to the Midwest.

According to Brian Robb at MassLive recently, former assistant general manager of the Celtics, Austin Ainge, is expected to leverage his insider information about the Celtics in his new role as president of basketball operations for the Utah Jazz. 

With over 10 years in the Boston front office under Brad Stevens, young Ainge (now joining his father Danny, CEO of the Jazz) obviously has valuable intel on the Celtics, and the Jazz could become a wildcard in the Celtics' trade market this summer.

Utah already has numerous ties with former Celtics players throughout the franchise, from Ainge to head coach (former Celtics assistant) Will Hardy, and former Celtics players like Jaden Springer and Svi Mykhailiuk.  

League sources have informed MassLive that the Jazz showed interest in acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday via trade in 2023, before both players eventually landed in Boston. Both players are back on the trading block this year.

Players who could leave Boston

There are no two executives in the league who know the current Celtics players as well as Danny Ainge and Austin Ainge, so it's worth keeping an eye on Utah (beyond Holiday and Porzingis) if Celtics players are available for trades.

The Celtics need to get below the luxury tax second threshold, and with Jayson Tatum out for the entire 2025/26 season, now is the time to shed some of those hefty contracts. Holiday, Porzingis, Sam Hauser, and Derrick White are the names most mentioned as potential acquisitions. 

Meanwhile, the Jazz have salary cap flexibility to take on some significant and/or long-term contracts, as noted by Robb, and also have ample draft capital to use in any trade, as well as some attractive expiring contracts like John Collins, Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson, and KJ Martin.

It is expected that the Ainges will have Brad Stevens on speed dial during this offseason.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El sorprendente equipo que podría ayudar a los Boston Celtics a liberar salario este verano