Celtics Target Could Join Buyout Market After Getting Traded

A Celtics division foe struck a deal that could lead to one of the players they traded joining Boston on the buyout market.

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics were proactive in getting a deal done a day in advance of Thursday's trade deadline, acquiring Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies.

As detailed while breaking down the six-foot-eight, 245-pounder's game, the financial aspects of the equation, and sharing a conversation Inside The Celtics had on this subject with the franchise's president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, the former Michigan State Spartan is in the 99th percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com.

The 25-year-old Tillman is also a skilled passer and a high IQ player who figures to make more of an offensive impact working alongside the talent on the team atop the NBA standings, now 39-12 after a 125-117 victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks.

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But while Boston prioritized acquiring the three-year veteran to upgrade their depth behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, the Celtics still have the flexibility to make more moves.

Even after sending a 2027 second-round pick via the Atlanta Hawks and a 2030 second-round selection via the Dallas Mavericks with Lamar Stevens to acquire Tillman, they have their first-round draft capital from 2024-2027 and four second-round picks from 2024-2026.

They may also decide it's better to wait until after the trade deadline and sign someone on the buyout market.

One potential option got rerouted from the Toronto Raptors to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Two players Boston reportedly had an interest in, Kelly Olynyk and Otto Porter Jr., were in a deal that surprisingly sent the former to a team outside the postseason picture despite interest from multiple playoff parties.

While the Raptors are 18-33 and 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, the Jazz are 26-26 and tenth in the West. The latter's CEO of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge, is prioritizing the franchise's future, trying to scale up to become a title contender. That could lead to a buyout agreement with Porter.

It would hardly come as a surprise if the 30-year-old forward pushes for that and the chance to join a title contender.

Due to injuries, he's played in only 23 games since joining Toronto in the summer of 2022, but the third-overall pick in the 2013 Draft contributed to the Golden State Warriors beating Boston in the 2022 NBA Finals. He figures to have multiple suitors interested in his services if he becomes a free agent.

Further Reading

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

Celtics Strike Deal for Grizzlies Center

Celtics Linked to Multiple Wings Leading Up to Trade Deadline

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

Derrick White Opens Up About Shooting Slump After Propelling Celtics Past Pelicans: 'Don't Feel Sorry for Yourself'

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'

Brad Stevens Shares What Celtics Are Looking to Add and How He Hopes to Do So

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

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

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