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Celtics Swing Savvy Deal with 76ers for Jaden Springer
Wednesday, the Boston Celtics struck a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Xavier Tillman.
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 in Boston.
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"Skilled; toughness; well-coached," stated his new head coach, Joe Mazzulla. "Obviously, we paid a lot of attention to him because of the team that he plays for and the coach that he has, and I like his defensive versatility. He has really good numbers against some of the top centers in the league. His pick-and-roll defense and movement is actually really good, which gives us versatility at that position."
Al Horford expressed, "We're looking forward to having him here. And he's a guy that's played on good teams and understands how to play. I look forward to playing with him."
But the Celtics, armed with an open roster spot and draft capital that includes four second-round picks from 2024-2026, continued adding and struck a deal just before the trade deadline buzzer.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, they acquired Jaden Springer from the Philadelphia 76ers for a second-round selection.
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While Boston outscored the hosts 60-49 in the second half of its 117-107 win in the City of Brotherly Love that night, Springer provided a needed infusion of energy and athleticism in the 12 minutes before intermission.
He registered seven points in the period, awakening a quiet crowd at Wells Fargo Center and helping Philadelphia overcome a 20-4 run by the visitors, taking a 58-57 edge into halftime.
Noting who plays well against your team is not unique to the Celtics, but Brad Stevens has acted on that on multiple occasions.
Examples include Oshae Brissett and two players they've traded in as many days, Lamar Stevens, who went to Memphis in the deal for Tillman, and Dalano Banton, who they rerouted to the Portland Trail Blazers for a heavily protected second-round pick, per Wojnarowski.
Springer, a six-foot-four guard, is averaging four points and nearly a steal per contest in 32 appearances and 11.8 minutes of floor time this season. While he's not much of a shooter, he's plenty willing to attack downhill and is a capable and disruptive defender. And as Boston's last visit to Philadelphia can attest to, he'll bring an energy boost when called upon.
Springer becoming a rotation fixture on a team this talented and this late into the current campaign is unlikely. But he'll help when asked to in these final 31 games before the playoffs.
The 21-year-old North Carolina native is under contract for $4 million next season, making him a young, talented player with plenty of upside who the Celtics can continue working with.
Further Reading
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'
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'
