Celtics Target Joins Conference Rival

While rumors of a potential reunion appeared unlikely, it's surprising this former Celtic wound up on a team outside the postseason picture.

The Boston Celtics didn't wait until deadline day to get a deal done. They struck early to swing a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Xavier Tillman.

As detailed while breaking down the six-foot-eight, 245-pound former Michigan State Spartan'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, Tillman is in the 99th percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com.

He's also a skilled passer and a high IQ player who figures to make more of an offensive impact operating alongside the talent the team atop the NBA standings, now 39-12 after a 125-117 victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks, has.

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Acquiring Tillman ended the idea of a reunion between Boston and Kelly Olynyk. While the former reportedly had an interest in that coming to fruition, it's a possibility that always appeared unlikely to this author.

As anticipated, the ten-year veteran is on the move, though, going from the Utah Jazz to, in a plot twist, the Toronto Raptors. The former Gonzaga Bulldog had multiple playoff teams pursuing his services, and it seemed he'd land with one of them.

Instead, he heads north of the border, joining a team that's 18-33 and 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.

Olynyk and former Kansas Jayhawk Ochai Agbaji will head to Toronto in exchange for a 2024 first-round pick, Otto Porter Jr., and Kira Lewis, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Perhaps Porter, a reported Celtics target, will end up on the buyout market and take his talents to Boston to join Tillman in trying to help its quest to raise Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters.

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

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'