BONUS: Boston Celtics OPTIONS to ADD to a Championship Contender This Summer

Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics

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4.7 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 19 February 2026

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Boston Celtics eye bold moves with tax savings and smart roster calculations. Could Nikola Vucevic's contract reshape the future? Host John Karalis of Celtics on SI and salary cap expert Keith Smith break down the Celtics’ financial maneuvering, spotlighting the impact of staying under the NBA luxury tax and earning an $8-9 million league payout. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown solidifying Boston’s championship window, Keith explains how the team’s traded player exceptions, mid-level signings, and sign-and-trade options could unlock multiple new rotation pieces, fueling speculation about offseason strategies. Brad Stevens’ tactical mastery—balancing ruthless business decisions with player relationships—takes center stage. Karalis and Smith debate the value of Sam Hauser, Anfernee Simons, Vucevic, and Payton Pritchard, exploring the likelihood of future trades and unexpected signings. Will the Celtics commit to a win-at-all-costs approach or stay disciplined with their spending? Don’t miss this sharp analysis of Boston’s path toward NBA supremacy and roster flexibility.

Transcript

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0:00.0	bonus content on the lockdown Celtics podcast.
0:05.0	If you were listening to the podcast, the Thursday podcast, you know that I had Keith
0:09.5	Smith from Spottrack on the show to explain what the Celtics are doing in the,
0:15.7	in the short term.
0:18.7	If you missed it, the who they might sign upgrading upgrading a two-way guy or two-way guys,
0:24.6	check that out.
0:25.6	It's on this feed, whether you're listening or you're watching.
0:28.7	If you're new, if this is your first exposure to the lockdown Celtics podcast, I'm John Corrales.
0:32.6	I'm a beat writer covering the Celtics for Celtics on SI at Sports Illustrated. And I host the show on a daily
0:41.2	basis. It's normally a half hour podcast, usually a little bit more than a half hour. That's
0:46.5	available everywhere. So make sure you're subscribed everywhere. But for this purpose, I got Keith. I've,
0:53.3	kidnapped him. I've tied him to his chair.
0:56.6	And we're going to talk for another 10 or 15 minutes or whatever it is. As we,
1:02.0	because I wanted to throw some other things out at you here. The, the, the potential for,
1:08.7	because the Celtics are not going to go above the first apron next year at all at no even if they
1:16.9	decide to pay the tax now they could decide to pay the tax depending on how the season is going
1:25.6	they may go into it thinking we're not going to pay the tax and then the season is going. They may go into it thinking, we're not going to pay the tax.
1:29.1	And then the season could dictate,
1:31.1	like, we need to spend more money.
1:35.7	And because now we're in the Jason Tatum,
1:40.4	Jalen Brown,
1:43.4	the,
	...

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