Top 3 Celtics Trade Candidates After Disastrous Playoff Exit

The Boston Celtics crashed and burned in this year's playoffs in their failed attempt to defend their 2024 NBA championship. Now, after a disastrous spring, it's on to a tumultuous summer, as we've already learned that plenty of changes are in store for the Celtics roster.

With Jayson Tatum expected to miss all of next season recovering from his Achilles tear, and the team's salary structure at an onerous amount next season, the C's have some roster reconstruction to do.

With that, let's have a look at the 3 top trade candidates that could allow Boston to get their luxury tax issues in order.

Kristaps Porzingis

The 7-footer has one year left at $30 million on his contract, and the Celtics would love to get out from under that cap hit. He's played just 60% of his team's games in the two seasons he's been in Boston, which is par for the course for the oft-injured unicorn of a big man. He played just 42 games this season and averaged a seven-year low 19.5 points per game. Finding a trade partner for an expiring $30 million contract shouldn't be a huge problem, particularly with the talents he brings to the floor—IF healthy.

Jrue Holiday

He's still under contract for another three years at an AAV of just a shade under $35 million. Wouldn't the Celtics love to get out from under that contract? The two-time champion, six-time NBA All-Defensive Team guard had a significant dropoff in production this season, and is starting to show his age as he's about to turn 35 next month. We had a look last week at a proposed blockbuster that would send Holiday to the Detroit Pistons.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report figures a trade to the Orlando Magic might work.

"He isn't likely to go for much of a haul, but the Orlando Magic are one team that could justify ponying up at least a pick swap... They could use a steady-handed floor general, and Holiday is still that."

Sam Hauser

Matt Dolloff of 98.5 The Sports Hub says that the Celtics would undoubtedly be "better off without Sam Hauser's superfluous four-year, $45 million extension on the books."

Hauser is a shooter, with this season's 41.6% the lowest he's shot from long range in his career. But his production in these playoffs was negligible at best, as he averaged just three points per game. A nice shooter, yes, and they just might be able to find a few teams that could offer some assets in return.