In an ideal situation, the Celtics would still have Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis on the parquet floor in 2025-26.
Even with Jayson Tatum likely out for the entire season while rehabbing a ruptured Achilles tendon, Boston could still be a tough out in a diminished Eastern Conference this fall — with Holiday’s defensive talents and Porzingis’ versatile skillset making sizable impacts on a reworked roster.
Instead, two lineup regulars who played key roles in Boston’s 18th championship will be playing elsewhere — as Brad Stevens and the Celtics made the call earlier this month to trade away both Holiday and Porzingis in separate deals.