Brad Stevens Sheds Light on Celtics' Motivations for Xavier Tillman Trade

The Celtics acquiring Xavier Tillman is an impressive example of threading the needle.

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The Boston Celtics made their home run swings in the offseason, starting with a summer trade for Kristaps Porzingis, part one of reshaping their roster's core.

Months after sending Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies in that three-team deal, also involving the Washington Wizards, Boston won the Jrue Holiday sweepstakes, parting with another member of its core, Robert Williams, to add the two-time All-Star.

The C's then struck a deal a day in advance of Thursday's trade deadline to land Xavier Tillman from the same franchise they rerouted Smart to.

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Regarding Boston's appetite to upgrade its depth behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford in case one missed time in the playoffs, Brad Stevens told Inside The Celtics about a month before the trade deadline, "What you look at is guys that can play, guys that can add value."

The team's president of basketball operations continued, "But like I said last year, (they) don't need to play. They are over themselves. And I think that that's important. That's what we have right now.

"And we've gotten obviously good play out of, great play out of Kristaps, I think Al's been good. I think Luke (Kornet) and Neemy (Neemias Queta), when called upon, (they) have both added great value."

Tillman checks those boxes.

A frequent listing among Inside The Celtics' potential trade targets for Boston, the six-foot-eight, 245-pounder from Michigan can function alongside Horford or Porzingis, operate as a stand-alone big, and admirably handled having multiple options ahead of him on Memphis' depth chart.

A prime example of him stepping up when the Grizzlies asked more of him was last postseason when injuries forced them to lean heavier on the former Michigan State Spartan. He responded by averaging 8.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers. He also produced nearly a steal and a block per contest.

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The 25-year-old is generating 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in the current campaign. Tillman also ranks in the 99th percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com.

He's also a skilled passer and a high IQ player who figures to make more of an offensive impact operating alongside the talent the team atop the NBA standings, now 39-12 after a 125-117 victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks, has.

Friday, while discussing the motivations for acquiring Tillman, Stevens conveyed, "We've always liked Xavier. He is, obviously, big and strong (and) moves his feet well laterally, so he's been able to guard a number of people at a number of different positions well. Above that, he plays the game for the right reasons. He competes, he passes, thinks the game well, all the stuff that we've been fortunate with the guys we have around our best players, that they've brought to the table; he knows how to play. So, we're excited to have him.

"He's a guy that we've always liked and thought could be of help. We'll see how that stuff all plays itself out. At the end of the day, there's, what it does is it gives us a lot of flexibility. Our coaches have, we've started with a quote, smaller lineup most of the year, but we play several minutes a game with a big lineup. It just hopefully gives us more options to do either."

Despite their flexibility restricted by being over the second apron and not wanting to part with their rotation fixtures, the Celtics added a player who can pace Porzingis and Horford in the final stretch of the regular season and contribute if called upon in the playoffs. It's an impressive example of threading the needle.

Further Reading

Celtics Swing Savvy Deal with 76ers for Jaden Springer

Celtics React to Xavier Tillman Trade: 'We Paid a Lot of Attention to Him'

Celtics Strike Deal for Grizzlies Center

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Jayson Tatum Shares What Went Through His Mind Seeing Celtics Fans Celebrate Marcus Smart

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Celtics Finding Joy in Basketball and Each Other's Company: 'We've Been Blessed'

Fixated on Winning, Jayson Tatum Again Proves He's Not 'Bored Making the Right Play Over and Over'

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Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'