Everything felt different the moment Jayson Tatum hit the floor in May 2025. One ruptured Achilles changed the math for the entire city of Boston.
Suddenly, the "keep the band together" plan didn't just look expensive; it looked impossible. When Bill Chisholm’s new ownership group took over, they weren’t just inheriting a championship banner; they were inheriting a $500 million bill. You can't just "vibes" your way out of a tax bill that large, especially when your best player is rehabbing a catastrophic injury.
So, Brad Stevens did what Brad Stevens does. He got clinical.
The Boston Celtics offseason rebuild trade rumors aren't just whispers anymore—they are the blueprint of a team trying to survive the "Second Apron" era of the NBA without falling into irrelevance. If you’ve been following the news, you know the roster that started 2026 looks almost nothing like the 2024 championship squad.
The Great Salary Purge of 2025
Let’s be real: losing Al Horford and Luke Kornet to free agency hurt, but it was the trades that really signaled the "rebuild" phase. Trading Jrue Holiday to Portland for Anfernee Simons was a move nobody saw coming until it happened. You don't trade a defensive mastermind like Jrue unless your back is against the financial wall.
Then came the Kristaps Porzingis move. Sending him to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal was the final nail in the coffin of the "Old Guard."
Why? Because the Second Apron is a monster.
- Financial Flexibility: By shedding Holiday and Porzingis, the Celtics managed to slide below that dreaded second-apron line.
- The Simons Factor: Anfernee Simons came over with a $27.7 million expiring contract. That is a massive trade chip for 2026.
- The Tatum Gap: With Tatum out until at least March 2026, the team needed a way to stay competitive without burning $200 million in luxury tax for a "wait-and-see" season.
Honestly, it’s been a masterclass in risk management. But it’s also created a massive hole in the frontcourt that Brad Stevens is currently trying to plug.
Who Is Actually on the Radar for 2026?
If you listen to the talk around TD Garden lately, it’s all about the bigs. Neemias Queta and Luka Garza have been absolute warriors, but they aren't the long-term solution if you want to hang Banner 19.
The biggest name circling the Boston Celtics offseason rebuild trade rumors right now is Ivica Zubac.
It makes a ton of sense on paper. Zubac is on a team-friendly three-year, $58.6 million extension. He’s an All-Defensive level talent who doesn't need the ball to be effective. However, Jake Fischer recently reported that the Clippers aren't exactly rushing to the phone to give him away. They’ve bounced back from a bad start, and Zubac is a huge part of that.
Then there’s the Robert Williams III reunion talk.
Yeah, the Time Lord. He’s currently in Portland, averaging about 6 points and 6 rebounds in limited minutes. It’s the ultimate "low risk, high reward" move that Brad Stevens loves. But can you trust his knees? That’s the question that keeps Celtics fans up at night.
🔗 Read more: Pete Maravich Assembly Center: Why This Baton Rouge Icon Still Matters
The Anfernee Simons Dilemma
Simons is in a weird spot. He’s been great—averaging about 13.5 points off the bench and shooting 40% from deep. He’s a big reason why the Celtics are sitting near the top of the East despite the Tatum injury.
But he’s an expiring contract.
If Stevens doesn't trade him by the February 5 deadline, he risks losing him for nothing in the summer. Rumors have linked Simons to the Clippers and even the Nets. If the Celtics can flip Simons for a legitimate starting center like Day'Ron Sharpe or even a home-run swing like Jaren Jackson Jr., they might just do it.
The JJJ rumors are spicy, but the math is terrifying. Jackson has a $204 million extension kicking in soon. Adding that to the $145 million already committed to Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White would put the Celtics right back into the luxury tax hell they just escaped.
What Most People Get Wrong About This "Rebuild"
People hear the word "rebuild" and think 20-win seasons and high lottery picks. That’s not what this is. This is a financial rebuild.
Jaylen Brown has stepped up into a legitimate MVP candidate role, averaging nearly 30 points a game. He’s proven he can carry the load. The Celtics aren't bottoming out; they are retooling the engine while the car is still driving 80 mph down I-93.
- They aren't "trading" Tatum: Stop it. Even with the Achilles injury, Jayson Tatum is the franchise. The rumors about him being moved are pure engagement bait.
- The bench is the priority: Joe Mazzulla’s new philosophy is all about depth. He’s playing guys like Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard heavy minutes because he wants a "positionless" rotation that can survive injuries.
- Drafting is back in style: Expect the Celtics to actually keep their 2026 first-round pick. Mock drafts like Jeremy Woo’s have them looking at Duke’s Isaiah Evans. They need cheap, young talent to offset the massive Max contracts at the top.
What Happens When Tatum Returns?
This is the $500 million question. Tatum is projected to return sometime in March 2026.
By then, the trade deadline will have passed. The roster will be set. If Brad Stevens lands a guy like Zubac or Sharpe, the Celtics suddenly look like a juggernaut again.
But reintegrating a superstar into a team that has spent a year learning to play "Brown-ball" is tricky. Derrick White and Anfernee Simons (if he's still here) have developed a rhythm. You don't just flip a switch and go back to the 2024 offensive sets.
The reality of the Boston Celtics offseason rebuild trade rumors is that they are all about timing. Stevens is waiting for the perfect moment to strike—likely a "sneaky buyer" move where he uses Simons' salary to grab a disgruntled star from a team that's falling apart.
Actionable Insights for the Trade Deadline
If you're trying to keep track of where this is going, watch these three things:
- The Jan. 15 Restriction Drop: Now that we've passed January 15, many players signed in the offseason are eligible to be traded. This is when the phones start ringing.
- The $12 Million Gap: The Celtics are currently about $12 million over the luxury tax. Trading a guy like Chris Boucher (who is barely playing) could save them nearly $9 million in tax penalties.
- The "Aggregator" Status: Because the Celtics moved below the second apron last summer, they can now combine salaries in a trade. This is a huge advantage they didn't have last year. They can package Simons and a smaller contract to bring back a high-salary player.
The next few weeks will define the next five years of Celtics basketball. Whether it's a reunion with Robert Williams III or a shock move for an All-Star big, Brad Stevens isn't done tinkering with this roster. The "rebuild" was never about giving up; it was about getting smarter.
Keep an eye on the injury reports and the waiver wire. In this new NBA, the most important moves often happen in the margins.