The Celtics are unlikely to pursue a disabled player exception in the wake of Jayson Tatum‘s Achilles tear, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. The DPE provides an avenue to help teams replace players who suffer serious injuries, but it carries restrictions that will limit its usefulness for Boston.
Robb points out that teams aren’t permitted to use the exception until a physician designated by the NBA determines that the player is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through June 15 of the qualifying season. Tatum’s injury occurred Monday during Game 4 against the Knicks and he underwent surgery on Tuesday, so it’s far too early to put a firm timetable on his recovery process.
Also, the DPE is limited to the amount of the mid-level exception, which is currently $14.1MM. Considering Tatum’s $54.1MM salary for next season, the Celtics couldn’t come close to replacing him with a similar player. Robb notes that the team is already facing a record tax payment for 2025/26, so the extra financial penalties associated with adding salary would make it prohibitive.
Robb believes Boston will definitely make moves this summer to drop below the $208MM second apron and may try to get beneath the projected $188MM tax line. He states that the front office might have to explore moving Jaylen Brown if the return is right, and he lists Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Sam Hauser as other trade candidates.
There’s more from Boston:
- Tatum’s father expects the recovery time to be about eight to nine months, Marc J. Spears of Andscape said on ESPN’s NBA Today (Twitter video link). A nine-month absence would bring him back around the All-Star break, giving him plenty of time to ramp up for the playoffs. Spears adds that Tatum and his father cried on the phone together after the injury, but his father inspired him by pointing out that Kobe Bryant went through the same experience. Spears also reveals that Tatum’s surgeon performed similar procedures on Kevin Durant and Tiger Woods.
- A league source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe that Tatum and the Celtics made the decision to have surgery right away after doctors confirmed the severity of the injury Tuesday morning. Himmelsbach’s source adds that the medical outcomes with Achilles tears tend to be more favorable when they’re addressed quickly, and that complications are often associated with this type of operation, so Celtics officials were relieved when Tatum’s procedure went smoothly.
- Despite the grief over losing Tatum, the Celtics still have a chance to salvage their second-round series with three straight wins over the Knicks, starting with tonight’s Game 5, Himmelsbach adds. He points out that the team went 8-2 without Tatum this season, but was only 2-2 against playoff teams. “We feel for [Tatum], of course,” Porzingis said. “But we have to move forward. He doesn’t want us to be sad and not playing our best basketball. So we’re going to go out there and leave it all out there and live with the results.”
- Porzingis, who is dealing with side effects from a lingering virus, was able to play 24 minutes on Monday, the most since Game 3 of the opening-round series with Orlando, Himmelsbach notes. “Tonight was the first time I felt decent, honestly, just everything,” Porzingis said. “My energy, I was more, like, uplifted, and maybe didn’t have my best game, anyway, but my energy was good and I felt like I could go a bit more up and down, so that was a positive.”
2026 is a wash. So yes, reloading and cutting salary is 100% on the table. KP, Jrue, and White now all more likely to be dealt.
If you liked someone in this draft at 10.. Houston could be an option if they don’t get their other guy.
Why ???? This ain’t the Sixers lol.
Celtics are a playoff team without Tatum…. They should use the exception. And just be ready for playoffs next yr……
Brown would be far more likely than White to be dealt.
Any team in the NBA would want White at that salary, Boston included.
Not so sure about White, but I agree that Jrue and KP are gone. So is Hauser.
Porzingis has looked lost out there. He isn’t even able to set solid screens. When he’s doing all right, he’s one of the best bigs in the game. Sadly that only happens a month or two a year.
He only has one year left on the books though and they’d have to attach a picks as his value has taken a hit. The guys most likely to go would be Holiday and Hauser IMO. Brown if they REALLY want to blow it up.
Glad these dudes got a ring last year, cuz it makes it all go down so much easier,
They can take a year off and comeback strong in 2027. there is a few teams out there that have a large amount of 1st round picks that they could trade one of their non-essitial players for. Porzingis could bring them a 1st round pick since tall centers are coveted by many teams.
Jrue will be the hardest to move, by far — 34 years old, 3 years left at $35M/yr, declining availablility and productivity (only 11 ppg this year in 30 mpg, 62 games played).
If Holliday had only 2 years left, it would be a lot easier to move him matching contracts expiring next season. But no teams wants a 37 year old at $35M.
You are a Celtics expert too …..
Answer one question. What team do you follow. Who do YOU like …., or you judt comment on every team ????
Al- so, being a fan of a team is a requirement to comment on that team ?!
Are you going to practice what you preach and stick to the Knicks ?
Any deal will be difficult if they have to match salaries.
I can’t imagine Tatum will be able to play in only 9 months.
I was hearing 12-14, so 2025-26 is a pipedream.
The only problem with trading away players to get their payroll in check is the only two players they on team friendly contracts are White and Pritchard. The two guys I’d think they want to keep.
Holiday is a great guy but he struggled quite a bit this season offensively. $32/$34.8/$37.2 million is a lot of cash for a guy that scored 11 points a game with a sub par 3P% that’s lost a step on defense.
Porziņģis is a little more tolerable, at least he has an expiring contract but still $30.7 million is a lot for a guy that only played 57 and 45 games in the last two regular seasons and has been almost non existent in the post season.
> Tatum’s father expects the recovery time to be about eight to nine months,
The most optimistic possibility from the doctor is always the one the athlete and family announce go with at the start.
Tatum will have 4 years and $260M left on his contract after next season. The Celtics will be encouraging Tatum to take the entire season off, and come back fully recovered for 2026-27.
Getting under the tax line would be quite a feat. Tatum, Brown and White (must keeps) make 135 mm alone. Not sure that’s a practical path.
Imo why would any NBA franchise care about the cap or tax. If they are a legit contender. Do all of you understand what that means. Every team is building to be a contender. How many years you thnk you get to be that. If are legit you don’t quit …
HammerTime …….
What would any franchise about the cap if you’re a legit contender? The new CBA brought the 2nd apron. If your over the 2nd apron you lose the following-
1. Complete access to the mid-level exception in free agency.
2. The ability to trade a first-round pick seven years into the future.
3. The ability to acquire players in return when the team chooses to sign-and-trade its own free agents elsewhere.
4. The ability to aggregate contracts in trades.
5. The ability to send straight cash out to teams in trades.
On top of that if your over the 2nd twice in a four year period your draft pick automatically falls to the end of the 1st rd.
If you understand that it means it makes it very hard to continue to build your team. Besides without Tatum the Celtics might make some noise in the Eastern conference but aren’t a legit contender next season.
> Imo why would any NBA franchise care about the cap
> or tax
Because they can’t afford it. it costs hundred of millions of dollars in tax penalties in the league, which would make ownership lose money.
Warriors had almost a $450M effective payroll a couple of years ago, Celtics’ estimated to be $500M in a couple of years unless they dump some players. You can do that for 1 or 2 years, but not longer.
Houston are the only team I’m listening to in regards to trading for Jaylen. Thompson, Whitemore, Smith jr, Brooks and no.10 pick this draft. I’m sure both could make something work. Anyone other than Houston and I’m handing Brown the keys and working on the fringes. Ie cya Sam and come again when Tatum is back.
Brown to the Rockets for a bunch of those Phoenix picks and salary.
Can’t just dump $50 plus mil on the rockets. They’d have to send some young talent with Brooks. I’d take Brooks if Thompson, Whitmore and that 10th puck are involved. Anything less, I’m running it back and trading the likes of Hauser.