Headline: Celtics Face Challenging Offseason Ahead as Tatums Injury and Salary Cap Woes Loom

BOSTON (AP)— The Boston Celtics kicked off this season with aspirations of ending a six-year stretch in the NBA without a back-to-back champion.

With a largely unchanged lineup spearheaded by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they seemed poised for success after cruising through the regular season, notching their second consecutive 60-win campaign and securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

However, their postseason aspirations came crashing down, epitomized by a 4-2 defeat to the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals—a team they had previously dominated during the regular season. This loss marks the sixth consecutive NBA champion that has failed to advance past the second round the following year.

Compounding the disappointment of losing their championship title was Tatum’s heartbreaking ruptured Achilles tendon injury late in Game 4, which forced him to sit out the final two games of the series. The 27-year-old now faces a lengthy rehabilitation process that could sideline him for a significant part of next season.

This injury has cast a shadow over both the conclusion of the Knicks series and the Celtics’ future as they look ahead to the offseason. Brown, reflecting on their exit, sought to offer a glimmer of hope to fans.

“This journey isn’t over. It’s not the end for me. I’m eager to return even stronger. You’ve just got to take this with your head held high,” Brown stated. “I understand, Boston, things may seem bleak right now with JT out and our season ending, but there is much to look forward to. I want the city to feel enthusiastic about that. This is not the conclusion.”

However, the road ahead may not be straightforward.

This season, Boston’s payroll exceeded the salary cap, making them a luxury tax team for the third consecutive year. Consequently, they will face a “repeater tax” penalty for being over the cap three out of four years.

With next season’s payroll projected to be around $225 million, the anticipated tax bill could reach nearly $280 million, totaling almost $500 million—a record in the league.

It is uncertain whether the team’s new ownership, having agreed to purchase the franchise for a minimum of $6.1 billion in March, will be willing to endure those substantial penalties to retain the current roster.

This could lead to some form of financial restraint during the offseason, especially with 11 players already under contract.

Tatum inked a historic five-year, $314 million contract last July, set to commence next season, earning him $54 million, while Brown is in the midst of a five-year, $304 million deal that kicked off this year with a $53 million salary next season. Other significant contracts include Jrue Holiday ($32 million), Kristaps Porzingis ($30 million), Derrick White ($28 million), and Sam Hauser ($10 million).

Among the top nine players in the rotation this season, only veterans Al Horford and Luke Kornet are set to become free agents.

In addition to financial concerns, Porzingis’s health will be under scrutiny after he struggled with a persistent viral illness that limited his effectiveness during the latter part of the regular season and playoffs against the Knicks.

Despite this, he expressed optimism about his recovery, stating, “The best thing I need right now is just to rest. Find some sunshine and allow my body to recuperate.”

On a brighter note, he mentioned his intention to represent Latvia in EuroBasket this summer.

Meanwhile, Brown, who played through a right knee issue in the postseason, remains uncertain about whether he will need surgery this offseason.

Despite the uncertainty, Brown maintains a positive outlook, though he recognizes that challenges may lie ahead.

“Losing to the Knicks feels like the end of the world,” he remarked. “But I’ve always been taught that there’s life after death.”