Celtics Face Major Headache as Sudden Departure Adds New Problems to Jaylen Brown & 3 Stars’ Futures

After a disappointing exit from the playoffs, the Boston Celtics are now set to face significant changes with the offseason approaching. With a lot of expectations falling short, the priority at the moment seems to be figuring out how to get back in form. And Jayson Tatum, the Celtics’ showstopper, is down with a ruptured Achilles tendon, so now Boston finds itself in murky waters for the upcoming campaign. However, that is not all that has Boston’s front office worried, as the team runs the risk of losing one of its biggest assets right before trade season. Rumors have been flying around the league that Jaylen Brown’s days in the league might be numbered.

Why Brown you ask? Well, trimming his 300 million contract could open doors for the Celtics. At the moment, the team finds itself in dire need of revitalization, but salary caps make it difficult for management to make any significant adjustments without outgoings. Hall of Famer Charles Oakley feels that the star-studded roster needs a major shakedown.

“Jaylen Brown, I mean, he is a good player…But for a guy who get paid $300 million, he should be a top 10 player in the league. I don’t think he a top 30 player in the league.”

However, with him averaging 22.2 points and 4.5 assists, there have been no suggestions made by Boston on the matter. On the other hand, JB is not the only athlete on the team whose future might be affected by the Celtics’ revitalization attempts. In the absence of Tatum, Celtics may lack a major star who can lead the way, despite having the likes of Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford. That situation will only be made worse by the fact that Austin Ainge, the Celtics general manager since 2011, has left Boston to join his father on the Utah Jazz.

The ex-Celtics general manager is now the president of the Jazz’s basketball operations. However, what does that mean for Boston? After almost two decades, Angie was instrumental in Boston’s scouting and roster management. With Tatum down and Angie gone right before draft season, the front office now has to navigate through their delicate luxury cap situation. Noa Dalzell, a Celtics blog writer, posted on X, questioning whether Boston will be able to fill their leadership void.

She wrote, “Big implications here: Austin Ainge’s departure leaves a big void in the Celtics’ front office decision-making apparatus with the draft just a few weeks away.”

Big implications here: Austin Ainge’s departure leaves a big void in the Celtics’ front office decision-making apparatus with the draft just a few weeks away.

Sources say Austin will be the #1 decision-maker in Utah. https://t.co/rrhOTXJc3z

— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) June 2, 2025

Reuniting with his father, Ainge’s arrival has been timed perfectly by the Jazz, and his expertise could accelerate Utah’s ascent in the Western Conference next season. On the other hand, his absence amid the Celtics ownership transition could result in changes to the core team. While that has been rare in Boston, this summer is definitely set to prove otherwise.

Where will the Celtics head this summer?

While a Jaylen Brown departure seems speculative, for now, with Bill Chisholm acquiring the franchise, things might change. The Brown-Tatum partnership has resulted in one championship. However, Jaylen’s contract has been always been a gamble for the Celtics, as he draws one of the highest salaries in league and may not have the status to back it.

Similar to JB, Al Horford’s future in the franchise also seems uncertain. Averaging nine points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, Horford is definitely not an All-Star player anymore. And with his nineteen-million-dollar contract expiring this summer, his future remains up in the air. Nonetheless, Horford still maintained his numbers across 60 regular and 11 playoff games last campaign.

But the same cannot be said of his teammate, Kristaps Porzingis. Suffering from a mysterious disease, Porzingis was almost invisible this postseason. Scoring in single digits all through the Eastern Conference semifinal matchups, his absence was too big not to be noticed by the new front office. The athlete drew 29.2 million for this season, with another thirty million still being owed.

However, his troubles put him among the players who could potentially be moving out this summer. Clearly, the Celtics’ main concern this season is to be under the second tax apron, and they might have to push one or more stars out.

And Jrue Holiday’s 134.4 million contract extension is one of their larger contracts that can help reduce their payroll. Luckily for them, the Mavericks are seemingly targeting Holiday for a trade. This could give the Celtics a chance to mitigate costs without losing Brown. And for Dallas, it would strengthen their defense until Kyrie Irving makes a comeback.

Well, the next weeks will tell which way the Celtics’ front office decides to go. For now, all we can do is speculate.

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