NBA Rumors: Celtics, Jrue Holiday, Hawks, Draft, Blazers, Chris Paul

Celtics

The Celtics may need to “dip into their draft asset pool” to unload the contracts of either Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis, according to Brian Robb of MassLive.

Both players are believed to be available as Boston looks to trim payroll before next season.

“The Celtics are juggling a number of different priorities this offseason as they head into a critical summer,” Robb wrote. “Financial constraints will force the team to retool to some degree for the 2025-26 season after Boston’s brass pushed their chips all-in towards contending and above the second apron during the last two seasons.”

• One opposing scout told Hoops Wire he believes the Celtics could be in for a long season next year, given that Jayson Tatum is likely to miss most or all of it following Achilles surgery. “They’re not going to be able to replace him and will have to try to trade away a key starter,” the scout said. “The East should be wide open again.”
• The Kings are among the teams believed to be interested in Holiday. Meanwhile, Porzingis is viewed as the most likely Boston player to be traded between Porzingis, Holiday and Derrick White.

Hawks

The Hawks own the Nos. 13 and 22 overall picks and may explore packaging them for a win-now veteran, or to move up in the draft, sources told Hoops Wire.

That said, Atlanta has yet to hire a head of basketball operations, so it’s hard to know if there’s a solid plan in place. Word is, the Hawks are hiring to hire that main basketball man ahead of the draft (June 25). 

The possibility exists that they don’t. If not, newly minted general manager Onsi Saleh will handle the draft and even the immediate free agency that follows. For now, he has been given the green light to construct the roster as he sees fit, sources said.

• All of that said, if the Hawks keep the picks, “they should be able to bring in at least one rotation player, plus another player who is a bit more of a project,” wrote Keith Smith of Spotrac.
• Atlanta also has some decisions ahead in free agency. “The Hawks will at least look at what it would take to re-sign Clint Capela, Caris LeVert and Larry Nance Jr.,” Smith wrote. “Pending cost, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of the veteran trio return, provided all understand they are filling backup roles and will be paid accordingly.”

Trail Blazers

The Blazers are among the teams that could have an interest in Chris Paul should he not return to the Spurs, a source told Hoops Wire.

Portland GM Joe Cronin has suggested he likes the roster as currently constructed, though those around the league have said the Blazers would like to add a veteran guard to mentor Scoot Henderson. Paul is not expected to be back in San Antonio.

Nonetheless, the Blazers’ offseason priority is said to be the draft, then figuring it out from there. They own the No. 11 overall pick, and at the moment, that’s it.