Celtics trade Joel Anthony to Pistons for Will Bynum
The Boston Celtics traded center Joel Anthony to the Detroit Pistons for point guard Will Bynum, the team announced Friday.
Anthony, 32, is a defensive specialist and spent the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Miami Heat. The Celtics acquired him in a three-team trade in January, and he will earn $3.8 million this season in the final year of his contract. Anthony has career averages of 2.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He won two championships with the Heat.
Anthony will compete with Aaron Gray for minutes behind Andre Drummond. The Pistons are entering their first season under new team president and head coach Stan Van Gundy.
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The 31-year-old Bynum has played for the Pistons since 2008 and has averaged 8.2 points and 3.3 assists during his seven-year career. He is also in the final season of his contract and will earn $2.9 million.
If Bynum is not cut by the Celtics, he could see minutes at point guard while Rajon Rondo is recovering from a broken hand. The Celtics selected point guard Marcus Smart with the No. 6 pick in the 2014 draft. Second-year point guard Phil Pressey, who saw extended minutes last season during Rondo's recovery from a torn ACL, will also be in the team's guard rotation.
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- Paul Palladino
