Shams: The Celtics core lineup will undergo major adjustments, and this year is the last chance for the lineup to win the championship

May 2 The Celtics broke the 16-year championship drought in 2024 and won the NBA championship. Today, they are striving to be the first team to defend their title since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

And the reason why the Celtics are difficult to beat in the past two seasons is that they may have the strongest lineup in the NBA today.

However, such a luxurious lineup is probably difficult to maintain for a long time. As the "Second Apron" rules in the new NBA labor and capital agreement take effect, the Celtics are expected to adjust the roster this summer. Earlier, well-known sports journalist Shams Charania mentioned when she was a guest on The Pat McAfee Show that the lineup is likely to be adjusted during the offseason.

Shams Charania said: "I can tell you that the entire league is mentally prepared for some degree of change in the offseason to make. Sources from multiple parties have told me over the past few weeks that the Celtics will actively explore trading options during the offseason."

"The current lineup is unsustainable for the Celtics. From players to management, no one on the team will be surprised by the personnel changes expected during the offseason."

At the same time, Shams Charania added that the Celtics will have five players who will earn more than $28 million a year next season, and the total salary of the entire team may be close to $500 million. Therefore, he expects this season to be the last chance for this set to compete for the championship with a group of players including Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Ju Holiday, Derek White, Porzingis, Horford and Prichard.

Celtics ended the regular season with a record of 61 wins and 21 losses this season, ranking second in the Eastern Conference. They easily eliminated the Magic 4-1 in the first round of this year's playoffs.