The Boston Celtics traded two second spherical picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for Xavier Tillman. The Michigan State alum strengthens Boston’s bench, one thing that Brad Stevens was trying to do earlier than Thursday’s deadline. Boston will ship Lamar Stevens and two second spherical picks to Memphis.
The Celtics are sending a 2027 second through Atlanta and a 2030 second through Dallas to the Grizzlies, sources inform ESPN. Boston will get Tillman, a younger, versatile frontcourt participant who provides them some depth for a championship run. https://t.co/29KABsBums
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2024
Tillman is available in and is straight away one among Boston’s greatest defenders. Though solely 6’7, Tillman will enable Joe Mazzulla to make use of totally different frontcourt lineups with out dropping any defensive output.
Tillman can actually defend. EPM ranks him within the 99th percentile amongst all defenders. He hasn’t performed effectively offensively this season however may very well be more practical with further expertise round him. Ought to give the Celtics a special frontcourt membership of their bag. https://t.co/Iaf9Sfkbr0
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 7, 2024
With the harm disaster in Memphis, individuals have speculated that the Grizzlies can be open to shifting some items. Tillman hasn’t produced on the offensive finish, however in Boston, he received’t be checked out as a scorer. This season he’s averaging 6 factors on 40.8% taking pictures and 41.9% from the free throw line.
With Stevens being a part of the deal, the Celtics nonetheless have the complete $6.2 million TPE they created from the Grant Williams sign-and-trade.
With Lamar Stevens headed to the Memphis, the maths modifications on the Xavier Tillman deal for Boston:
-Celtics will use Lamar Stevens as salary-matching for Tillman. (And so they’ll create a comically small, and unusable TPE for Stevens.)
-Celtics will nonetheless have the complete Grant…
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) February 7, 2024
The acquisition of Tillman provides Boston much-needed frontcourt assist and brings extra selection to how the Celtics defend. Tillman is averaging 1.2 steals and 1 block in 20.6 minutes per sport.
Right here is a few protection that Tillman will carry to Boston: