Following Jayson Tatum's Achilles tendon injury, the Boston Celtics face major roster changes. The team, which recently acquired key players like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to win the 2024 NBA championship, must now reassess its strategy. With potential payroll and luxury tax penalties exceeding $500 million, trades of Holiday and Porzingis were necessitated by the constraints of the salary cap's second apron. Despite Tatum's absence next season, expectations remain to compete fiercely without considering a rebuilding phase.
Keeping the core of the Celtics' roster intact might have exceeded a combined payroll and luxury tax bill of more than $500 million, considering Tatum's injury.
Stevens acknowledged, 'The second apron is why those trades happened.' This decision stemmed from the penalties associated with exceeding the salary cap restrictions.
Expectations for the Celtics remain high with Stevens stating, 'My expectations are always the same - compete like hell to win the next game.' No rebuilding phase will be considered.
Stevens confirmed that the focus for the Celtics moving forward won't include the word 'rebuild' as they adapt their strategy while Tatum recovers.
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