After winning the NBA title in 2023-24, the Boston Celtics brought their entire expensive roster back last season. With Jayson Tatum possibly out for all of the 2025-26 season, the Celtics have dumped two key players to get under the tax apron. Kristaps Porzingis was a crucial part of the Celtics’ title team, but injuries and a mysterious illness limited his availability in last year’s playoffs. Now he’s headed to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal that saves the Celtics $22.5M on next year’s payroll and gives the Hawks a replacement for free-agent center Clint Capela. It’s the second tax-saving move in as many days for the Celtics, who sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons Monday in a deal that saves them $4.7M next year and $72M in the two following seasons. Simons will slide in as Holiday’s replacement next season, but dealing Porzingis leaves the Celtics shallow in the frontcourt, where 39-year-old Al Horford and Luke Kornet are the remaining center options. While he’s n
