Boston Celtics executive weighs in on offseason roster overhaul

Long before Jayson Tatum's devastating injury in the postseason, there was endless chatter about the Boston Celtics making changes this offseason. Things did end up unfolding this way, as the roster went through a complete makeover this summer. Still trying to get under the second apron, one member of the front office opened up on the team's flurry of moves over the last month. 

Due to their extremely high payroll, many believed that the Celtics weren't going to be able to keep their starting unit together for long. As two of the older players of the group, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis found themselves with changes of scenery. The former was dealt back to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Anfernee Simons, while the latter is starting a new chapter alongside Trae Young on the Atlanta Hawks. 

While speaking anonymously with Keith Smith of Spotrac, one Celtics executive touched on parting with the two former All-Stars. The penalties of the second apron were a driving force in these decisions, as it's not worth it to keep an expensive roster together if they can't truly make a run at a championship. 

“Still figuring it all out. As you’ve noted, we’re still above the second apron. We won’t finish there. It sucked to trade Jrue (Holiday) and KP (Kristaps Porzingis), because we loved those guys and they loved Boston,” a Celtics front office executive said. “But it was being brutally honest that we aren’t the same level of team without Jayson (Tatum). We’ll be good. We’ll be a playoff team, but…you know. It’ll come for every team that lands where we did. You can’t be over the second apron and not a title contender. It’s just poor management for both the short- and long-term. The frozen pick and pick dropping stuff is real.”

With players like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White on the roster, the Celtics have the talent to remain competitive while Tatum recovers from his Achilles tear. That said, based on these remarks, it appears Boston is preparing for a gap year before returning to contender status in the East.