Boston Celtics

Can the Boston Celtics sign a max free agent in 2027-28?

Season2026-272027-282028-29 2029-30 2030-31

Not through free agency. The Celtics have no cap space for 2027-28 (projected), and outside free agents can only sign for the max using cap space.

Max, 0-6 yrs (25%)

$44.1M

Max, 7-9 yrs (30%)

$53.0M

Max, 10+ yrs (35%)

$61.8M

Cap space

-$35.4M

Max starting salaries run $44.1M to $61.8M depending on experience (projected), and the Celtics' cap position is -$35.4M.

Without room, a max-level player can still arrive by trade (matching salary) or by the Celtics re-signing their own free agent with Bird rights, which works over the cap.

This is a forward look at 2027-28: it counts the contracts, options, and cap holds already on the Celtics books for that season. Signings, trades, and option decisions between now and then will move these numbers.

The rule behind this

A player's maximum starting salary is a percentage of the salary cap, set by his years of service: 25% with 0–6 years, 30% with 7–9, and 35% with 10 or more.

How do NBA max salaries work? →What is cap space? →What does renouncing a free agent mean? →

More Celtics questions

Do the Boston Celtics have cap space in 2027-28?Are the Boston Celtics in the luxury tax in 2027-28?Are the Boston Celtics over the apron in 2027-28?Do the Boston Celtics have the mid-level exception in 2027-28?Who are the Boston Celtics free agents in 2027-28?What draft picks do the Boston Celtics have?

Numbers come straight from the live Celtics cap sheet, recomputed whenever the data updates.