Warriors Linked to NBA Champion Ahead of Potential Celtics Fire Sale This Offseason

The dominant trade rumors in the Bay Area right now have to do with Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, there are certainly other targets the Golden State Warriors can pursue other than the Greek Freak.

The Boston Celtics are expected to shake things up this offseason. With a new ownership group, Shams Charania reported in early May that changes are expected.

"Sources have been telling me for weeks now that the Celtics will be exploring trade options in the offseason," Charania stated. "This team, this iteration just is not going to be sustainable for this team."

With the Celtics on the verge of elimination in their second-round series against the New York Knicks, teams will be lining up to pick the scraps off the corpse sooner rather than later. The Warriors can be one of those teams.

Jan 13, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) and center Kristaps Porzingis (8) and Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun (28) battle for a rebound during the first half at TD Garden.

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Former NBA champion offers tremendous trade target for Warriors

One of the main reasons cited by Charania for the Celtics blowing it up this offseason was the massive payroll of the team.

"They have five players right now scheduled to make $28 million or more next season. That's a league record," Charania said. "They would have a salary bill of $500 million. That would be league history amount."

One or two of those five will likely have to find a new home next offseason. The most likely candidates to be dealt are expected to be Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.

NBA analyst Esfandiar Baraheni suggested the Warriors should be all-in on the sweepstakes for Holiday. The two-time champion would certainly fill several needs for Golden State.

Holiday is slated to earn over $30 million in each of the next three seasons. It would certainly be a heavy price tag to absorb for an aging star.

However, Holiday can still provide quality shooting, playmaking, and perimeter defense to a team that would benefit greatly from all three.