Report: Celtics Expecting $6B+ Valuation, 'Four-to-Five' Bidders amid Planned Sale

Boston Celtics ownership is reportedly expecting plenty of interest in the franchise after the Grousbeck family announced its intention to sell last year.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Grousbecks believe there will be four or five bidders, and they anticipate the Celtics getting sold at a valuation of over $6 billion.

Per Charania, the Celtics plan to whittle the field down to two finalists and will choose the winning bid during the first quarter of 2025.

Shortly after the Celtics won their 18th championship in franchise history last season, the Grousbeck family announced their decision to sell their controlling stake in the team by early 2025.

Wyc Grousbeck, who has been the Celtics' CEO since Boston Basketball Partners L.L.C. bought the franchise in 2002, told reporters in November that he planned to remain the organization's governor until 2028 when the full balance of the sale closes.

Given the history, success and market size of the Celtics, it figures to be among the most highly sought-after sports franchises to hit the open market in recent memory.

Per HoopsHype, the Phoenix Suns' sale to Mat Ishbia for $4 billion in 2022 is currently the most expensive in NBA history, but if the Grousbeck family's estimation is accurate, the Celtics will far exceed that number.

Boston is trending toward an 11th consecutive playoff appearance and its 17th in the past 18 seasons dating back to the championship-winning campaign of 2007-08.

The Celtics essentially dominated the league last season, going an NBA-best 64-18 before going 16-3 in the playoffs behind the play of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porziņģis.

Boston essentially returned the same core this season, and while not quite as dominant, the Celtics still have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and the third-best record in the league overall at 30-13.

Getting past the 36-6 Cleveland Cavaliers in the East or the 35-7 Oklahoma City Thunder in a potential NBA Finals matchup won't be easy, but the Celtics have the talent, depth and big-game experience to perhaps make them the safest bet to win it all this season.

Should that happen, it will occur after the Grousbeck family agrees to sell the team, assuming they stick to the first quarter of 2025 timeline.