Save $350 million, give up in the new season! Celtics become the fastest team in the NBA to retreat

Since the Raptors won the championship in 2019, the NBA championship in the past seven seasons seems to have been a flash in the pan, quickly reaching the highest podium in the NBA, and then quickly disappearing. To give a few simplest examples, after the Lakers in Bubble Park won the championship in 2020, they began to dismantle the lineup due to salary pressure, and then fell sharply; the same was true for the Bucks in 21, taking the initiative to send Holiday away to take over Lillard, and Lillard was bought out this summer, and then returned to the Trail Blazers, and the Bucks were in a mess; including the Nuggets for 23 years, losing their role players in succession, and have been blocked from the goal of the Western Conference Finals in the past two seasons. Even if Jokic is the first player in the league, he can't beat four-handed with two punches in the playoffs. But the team with the biggest contrast is the 24-year champion Celtics, who have been using any means to save money.

Two months ago, the Celtics experienced a darkest moment in team history: Tatum suffered a serious injury to the Achilles tendon and basically couldn't play next season, and the Celtics were also blocked by the Knicks from the East Finals. On the team's books, the total amount of guaranteed salary + luxury tax expenditure in the 25-26 season is expected to be US$540 million! At that time, there was only one way in front of General Manager Stevens: Save money! He sent Holiday to the Trail Blazers and the Pope to the Eagles, and Nian was eventually sent to the Jazz! After these three transactions, the Celtics received a total of three transaction special cases of 22 million + 8.2 million + 4.7 million, which can be used in the next year, but save several times the luxury tax! After sending N'ang away, the team has reduced its total salary to 196 million! According to the famous reporter Charania, the Celtics will not stop operating. If the total salary is reduced to 187 million yuan in the new season (below the luxury tax line), they can save another $40 million (including more than 30 million in luxury tax). So are there any players that the Celtics can sell? First of all, Anthony Simmons, who was traded by the Trail Blazers, was hung on the trading shelf. The team treated Nyan the same (eventually traded) and did not hold a new aid conference for him. Simmons will earn $27.68 million next season. In Boston media, the Celtics are very cautious about Simmons, not because he is young enough, but because the Celtics need to maintain enough salary cap space to ensure that they will return to competitiveness after Tatum returns in the 26-27 season.

Simplely put, from the total book salary of 540 million to the current 196 million, and then to the fact that it will be reduced to less than 187 million before the start of the new season. Behind the significant savings of 350 million in salary, it represents the attitude of the team management, and give up early in the new season! But when Tatum comes back, the team needs to get on track quickly and cannot limit the team's total salary to about 170 million. Simmons may be sent away, but the Celtics need to exchange for useful assets. Boston team reporter Robert revealed that in the Celtics lineup, there are no non-selling products except Jaylen Brown + White + Tatum + Hauser! This means that Prichard, who has three years and 23 million contracts left, may also leave. As long as he leaves, the Celtics' salary reduction plan will be perfectly realized! Is there anyone else in the

Celtics? On the books of the new season, Tatum is $54.13 million, with a basic season reimbursement; Jaylen Brown is $53.14 million, White is $28.1 million, Simmons is doubtful to stay, Hauser is $10.04 million, Boucher just signed 3.3 million, Dillman is 2.5 million, Hillman is 2.55 million, Kota is 2.4 million, and Gonzalez is 2.8 million in the first round of this summer. There are basically only 7-8 people who can play on the court! In the official NBA season strength list, the Celtics rank ninth in the Eastern Conference, but in ESPN's words, if the Celtics are this lineup to compete in the new season, it may be the lineup with the worst athletic ability in the entire league, no doubt about it! Other than Jaylen Brown and White, others may not be able to impress.

From the 24th championship, to the two rounds of the Eastern Conference last season, to the determination to lose competitiveness in the new season, Jaylen Brown and White are both confident. Brown believes that he was limited by his team's style of play and could not play all of himself. White believes that the team still has the strength to compete for the championship, but the team's management has given up on the new season ahead of schedule, and their remarks are just sayings. The most likely situation is that Brown without Tatum, just like Paul George who lost Harden and Cardi, his offensive deterrence and positional battles are exposed, and he can enjoy the cooldown with his back against a big tree. If he loses a big tree, he may be destroyed at any time. Brown still has 4 years of 236 million yuan in a super maximum salary.

Alliance miscalculated! The Warriors in 22 years, the Nuggets in 23 years, the Celtics in 24 years, and the Thunder in 25 years, the Celtics in the Eastern Conference are the most successful in the past four years. But looking forward to the new season, the Pacers core Halliburton, the team last season's finals, was seriously injured, and the Celtics core Tatum was also seriously injured. These two teams chose to keep a low profile like tacitly. The strongest teams in the Eastern Conference on paper are the Cavaliers + Knicks + Magic. The situation of strong west and weak east will be even more serious. What else can be seen in the east? No matter who eventually breaks through the siege, he will most likely become the green leaf that will eventually win the final winner of the West.