A brand new crew has emerged as a possible Jrue Vacation vacation spot.
In line with MassLives’ Brian Robb, the Los Angeles Clippers are a crew that might become involved in a possible Vacation commerce because the Celtics attempt to get beneath the 2nd apron.
New: The Celtics outbid a number of groups for Jrue Vacation earlier than buying the veteran guard from the Blazers in 2023. A type of earlier suitors is predicted to indicate curiosity once more in Vacation this summer season, a league supply tells MassLive. Extra: https://t.co/zliflayzrg
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) Could 28, 2025
Vacation is predicted to be pursued by a number of groups on the commerce market, and a league supply tells MassLive that the Los Angeles Clippers are one crew anticipated to indicate curiosity within the 34-year-old guard this offseason. The Celtics outbid a number of groups, together with the Clippers, per sources, for Vacation again in 2023 when the Blazers made the two-time All-Star obtainable following the Damian Lillard blockbuster deal to the Bucks. Boston ended up dealing Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams and two future first- spherical picks for Vacation within the deal earlier than coaching camp that helped lead the Celtics to a 2024 title.
Whereas it’s unclear what the Clippers last provide finally was, they have been within the sweepstakes of making an attempt to land Vacation after he was traded to the Blazers for Damian Lillard.
The Clippers report comes a couple of days after Marc Stein reported that the Dallas Mavericks might be concerned with Vacation.
Any deal that entails the Clippers would see the Celtics probably take Bogdan Bogdanovic, his $16 million wage. If Boston and Los Angeles can full the commerce earlier than the calendar turns to July and the brand new league 12 months begins the deal Robb talked about in his story of Vacation for Bogdanovic, Drew Eubanks and one among Jordan Miller, Kobe Brown or Cam Christie, brother of Mavericks guard Max Christie, works.
Nevertheless, if the deal is completed after the July 6 moratorium is lifted, that deal wouldn’t work as a consequence of Vacation’s rising wage and Eubanks and Bogdanovic’s lowering wage.
In a deal that takes place after the league 12 months flip, it will require the Celtics to tackle Kris Dunn’s $5 million contract, one thing the probably don’t need to do. The Clippers probably additionally don’t need to surrender Dunn in the event that they don’t need to.
If the groups determine to attend as a result of the Clippers would slightly transfer Dunn that one among their younger guys, Boston would probably flip each Dunn and Eubanks in that commerce so utilizing the Nets’ cap house. In consequence, it might appear like this.
In that deal, Boston would want to maneuver picks to get off of Eubanks and Dunn, one thing I’m positive they wish to keep away from.
For every crew that wishes Vacation, it lessens the probably hood that Boston would want to connect draft picks to get off of the remaining 3 years and $104 million left on his contract. Which is after all what Brad Stevens and firm wish to keep away from of their quest to get beneath the second apron.
I do not suppose Boston might want to connect picks to get off of Vacation, yearly you hear a couple of crew that wishes a veteran participant who has been via the wars of the playoffs to assist lead their younger expertise. Who higher to try this than Vacation? He has received titles in his first season on new groups as effectively.
Getting beneath the second apron is significant for the Celtics, as Celticsblog’s Bobby Manning talked about in his Vacation to Dallas rumor story.
Subsequent season’s roster initiatives to price roughly $500 million between payroll and repeater tax penalties, and one other season above the second apron line would freeze the Celtics’ 2033 first spherical decide. They should spend three of the following 4 seasons beneath to unfreeze 2032, whereas two years out of the tax resets the repeater penalty. Utilizing Tatum’s hiatus to reset these clocks might put the crew in the perfect place to contend when he returns. However they’ll depend on facilitators like Brooklyn to maneuver off cash, or bigger trades rising. That would result in some painful strikes.
So count on the Celtics to do the whole lot they’ll to get beneath the second apron this summer season and to remain beneath the second apron over the following handful of seasons.