The Boston Celtics were one of the busiest teams at the trade deadline.
Boston made three trades on Thursday, reshaping the roster and dramatically altering the financial outlook for the franchise. The moves addressed the team’s need for frontcourt depth while slashing payroll and dropping below the luxury tax line.
The flurry of activity came just days after the Celtics acquired Nikola Vucevic from the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. That deal set the stage for Thursday’s moves, which were designed to keep Boston competitive while creating financial flexibility for the future.
The Celtics sit at 33-18 after beating the Houston Rockets 114-93 on Wednesday night. They have won four straight games and seven of their last eight. The roster looks different heading into the stretch run, but the trajectory remains the same.
The Headline Move: Adding Nikola Vucevic
The Celtics made their most significant move on Tuesday afternoon, two days before the deadline.
Boston sent Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick to the Bulls in exchange for Vucevic and a second-round pick. The trade addressed the Celtics’ need for size up front while also creating financial flexibility heading into the offseason.
Vucevic is a 35-year-old veteran center who brings experience and versatility. He is averaging 16.9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game this season while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range.
Vucevic was not listed on Boston’s most recent injury report, suggesting he will make his debut during the upcoming homestand. The Celtics host the Miami Heat on Friday night, followed by the New York Knicks on Super Bowl Sunday and the Bulls on Tuesday.
Simons leaves Boston after a brief but productive tenure. He averaged 14.2 points and 2.4 assists per game this season while shooting 44 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from three. His best performance came in January when he dropped 39 points against Miami in a comeback win. The ‘Anferno’ will be missed in Boston.
The Salary Dumps: Clearing Cap Space
The Celtics made three trades on Thursday designed to slash payroll and drop below the luxury tax line.
Boston sent Chris Boucher and a second-round pick to the Utah Jazz in exchange for John Tonje on a two-way contract. Boucher appeared in limited action this season and was not part of the rotation. The move cleared salary while bringing back a young prospect with upside.
Tonje was drafted 53rd overall by Utah last spring. He earned second-team All-American honors during his final season at Wisconsin, putting up close to 20 points per game. This season, he has played primarily in the G League with Salt Lake City, where he averages 18 points and over 4 rebounds per game while shooting close to 38 percent from deep.
The Celtics also dealt Josh Minott to the Brooklyn Nets. He averaged 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season while shooting 50.7 percent from the field. His strong start suggested a potential breakout campaign. But an ankle sprain in January sidelined him for most of the month, and his opportunities never returned.
The third salary dump sent Xavier Tillman to the Charlotte Hornets. Tillman had been with Boston since being acquired from Memphis months before the 2024 championship. He only appeared in 14 games this season, averaging 2.2 points in 7.9 minutes.
Despite his limited playing time, Tillman was a vocal leader in the locker room and earned consistent praise from head coach Joe Mazzulla for his professionalism. His marquee moment as a Celtic came in Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Finals, when he guarded Luka Doncic and hit a crucial three-pointer to extend Boston’s lead.
All three trades served the same purpose. The Celtics needed to shed salary to avoid the luxury tax, and moving Boucher, Minott, and Tillman accomplished that goal while opening roster spots for future flexibility.
GettyXavier Tillman
The New Look Celtics Roster
The financial implications of Thursday’s moves cannot be overstated.
Boston entered the week with a projected salary and luxury tax figure of $540 million. By trading Simons, Boucher, Minott, and Tillman, the Celtics reduced that number to $186.5 million. They now sit approximately $840,000 under the luxury tax line, a dramatic shift that gives Stevens flexibility moving forward.
The Celtics can stay below the tax by leveraging 10-day contracts and other roster mechanisms. They created three open standard-contract roster spots, which allows them to survey the buyout market for depth upgrades if needed.
Boston also converted Amari Williams from a two-way contract to a two-year standard deal. Williams has appeared in 13 games for Boston this season, making two starts. The big man has put up strong numbers in the G League, posting over 15 points per game while grabbing more than 11 rebounds and dishing 5 assists across 21 games.
The Celtics now have 12 players on standard contracts:
- Jayson Tatum
- Jaylen Brown
- Derrick White
- Nikola Vucevic
- Sam Hauser
- Payton Pritchard
- Hugo Gonzalez
- Baylor Scheierman
- Luka Garza
- Neemias Queta
- Jordan Walsh
- Amari Williams
And three two-way players: Max Shulga, Ron Harper Jr., and John Tonje.
Final Word for the Celtics
The Celtics reshaped their roster at the trade deadline.
Boston added a veteran center in Vucevic, who brings size, experience, and scoring ability. They cleared salary by moving Boucher, Minott, and Tillman, dropping below the luxury tax line and creating financial flexibility for the future. They converted Williams to a standard deal, locking up a promising young player with upside.
The moves accomplish multiple goals at once. Boston addressed their biggest need by adding frontcourt depth. They dramatically reduced their tax burden, saving ownership millions while staying competitive.
The Celtics are 33-18 and positioned as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Brown has emerged as an MVP candidate. The supporting cast has been steady. The defense has been elite.
Losing Simons hurts. But adding Vucevic gives Boston another weapon. He provides veteran leadership, interior scoring, and floor spacing that opens up driving lanes for Brown and others.
Stevens was aggressive at the deadline. The roster looks different. But the goal remains the same.
The homestand begins Friday night against Miami. Vucevic is expected to debut. The Celtics will keep building toward what they hope is a deep playoff run.
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