The Boston Celtics made a significant move just before Thursday’s trade deadline, finalizing a deal to send Xavier Tillman Sr. to the Charlotte Hornets. The report, first broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania, marks the Celtics’ third trade of the day and their fourth transaction within the week, which included trading Chris Boucher to the Utah Jazz and Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets.
Tillman, who joined the Celtics during the 2024 trade deadline, was part of the team’s championship run, contributing to their victory in the 2024 NBA Finals by taking on defensive responsibilities, including defending notable player Luka Doncic in select games. This season, Tillman had been averaging 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds over 14 games, with one start, but recently saw his playing time diminish as he was overtaken in the rotation by Amari Williams, who was promoted from a two-way contract earlier in the day.
With the trade of Tillman, the Celtics now have three open roster spots available. The primary driver behind the decision to trade Tillman was financial, enabling the team to maneuver below the luxury tax threshold by offloading his contract along with the deals involving Boucher and Minott. While the Celtics will need to fill at least two of those roster spots, they have a 14-day window to make those decisions. How they approach these openings will be crucial for maintaining their financial strategy moving forward, as they look to stay under the luxury tax line while preparing for future roster enhancements.
This strategic approach by the Celtics not only reflects careful financial management but demonstrates their commitment to maintaining a competitive team without exceeding budget constraints, providing hope for a bright future as they continue to refine their roster.