When the Boston Celtics made the decision last night to trade away 2024 NBA Champion guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Anfernee Simons and two second-round draft picks, it was not seen as much of a surprise.
Discussions had persisted over how Boston was going to navigate out of the second apron bind they were in, and Holiday was seen as one of the players most likely to be moved to save money. Though Simons’ 2025-26 salary will only be a little under $5 million lighter than Holiday’s, ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out that the financial savings for the Celtics are much greater.
Here are the salaries going out
To Boston
Anfernee Simons: $25.9M, $27.7M (UFA, 2026)
* The Celtics get off the combined $72M owed to Holiday in 2026-27 and 2027-28
* Projected $40M in tax savings in 2025-26
* $18M over the 2nd apron
* Simons is extension eligible
To…
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 24, 2025
As Marks notes, the Celtics can save an estimated $40 million in luxury tax from this move. As for how this exactly works, your guess is as good as mine. The NBA’s luxury tax structure is a puzzle that – outside of NBA front offices – Marks seems to be the only one capable of solving.
Marks also points out that Simons’ contract expires after the upcoming season, and he is eligible for the Celtics to immediately sign him to an extension. Ironically, the Celtics are now set up well to do this.
With center Kristaps Porzingis also about to enter the last year of his contract, that is another $30.7 million that will not be on the books in 2026-27. Combined with losing Holiday’s $34.8 million salary, that is $65.5 million that the Celtics are saving after next season.
Simons can now get locked in for the long haul as the future of Boston’s backcourt with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White with Jayson Tatum back from his torn Achilles in 2026.
In other words, the Celtics just got tossed a life raft.
