Los Angeles Lakers fans are laughing as the Celtics' teardown was unsuccessful and will force Boston to make uncomfortable moves before the trade deadline. After Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury, it was clear that the Celtics would need to cut salary. They want to dodge the punitive repeater tax and get out of the aprons. It forced Boston to dump Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, but that wasn’t enough to accomplish their goals.
The Celtics flipped Holiday for Anfernee Simons to save money and get an expiring contract. Dumping Simons likely puts them below the tax, but they can’t find a trade partner (subscription required). Boston now sits $4 million over the first apron and without a contending roster.
The Lakers locked in Luka Doncic and are ready to compete for the next decade. They have watched their spending closely and remain opportunistic in upgrading their roster. Fans can’t believe their biggest rival is struggling, and things will only get worse in Beantown.
Lakers fans can’t help but laugh at the Celtics' nightmare offseason
Jayson Tatum won’t play in the 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. The Celtics still have Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard, but their roster is filled with question marks after that.
Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, and Xavier Tillman are battling for the starting center gig after Boston lost Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet this summer. It is not quite starting Jaxson Hayes in the playoffs, but this could be a disaster that leaves Boston reliant on winning shootouts every night.
The Celtics' biggest question is depth. Anfernee Simons will play a role for however long he is on their roster. Boston also has Sam Hauser, but their bench is filled with unproven talents. They will certainly be eager to leave their mark, and head coach Joe Mazzulla is no stranger to getting the most from his players. Boston believes they can make the playoffs without Tatum, but Lakers fans will believe it when they see it.
The Celtics still have pain ahead. They want to cut more money before the Feb. 5 trade deadline. If Simons doesn’t increase his value, Boston will have to attach draft capital to dump his contract. The lost picks would further limit their ability to build a contender when Tatum returns and could create larger problems.
The Lakers have their own drama. Nobody knows what the LeBron James situation is heading into training camp. He is in the final year of his contract. Does King James play after this season? Do the Lakers bring him back if he does? That drama will linger until LeBron makes a firm decision on his future.
Los Angeles Lakers fans are enjoying the Celtics' misery. Boston could only half accomplish their goals and are now left in a tricky spot. They want to chase a playoff berth, but will have to weaken their roster before the deadline. That will be problematic and may put them in the lottery just two years after winning a championship. The purple and gold have a bright future. It is hard to believe the Celtics' struggles, but the NBA’s spending rules make teams do crazy things. Lakers fans are loving watching their longtime rival make difficult calls and strip their roster of talent.