The motivation here is clear. The moment Jayson Tatum went down with a ruptured Achilles in the second round of the playoffs, Boston's $227.8 million payroll and $238.2 million luxury tax bill (which combined to make the Celtics' roster the most expensive in the league) became untenable.

Whatever the offer, it had better be a huge one, given the Colorado native has a boatload of value to his current team.

A league source said that Boston will receive the Knicks’ 2030 second-round pick that the Trail Blazers had previously acquired, as well as Portland’s 2031 second-round choice.