Brad Stevens was an outstanding head coach but might excel even more in the front office.
The Celtics had already made significant moves by acquiring Jrue Holiday on the eve of training camp and Kristaps Porzingis a few months earlier. These acquisitions have paid off well for the Celtics, who sit atop the NBA.
As a result, there wasn’t much need for significant changes before Thursday’s trade deadline. However, this didn’t stop Stevens from seeking ways to improve his squad, especially by focusing on adding depth, particularly in the frontcourt.
“We have a rotation group of players that has played awfully well together beyond just six, seven, eight guys. We’ve got several guys that have played awfully well together,” Stevens said Friday. “So, you want to be able to add to the depth of the group without throwing off the equilibrium of the group.”
The pursuit of depth prompted Boston to make two acquisitions: Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Lamar Stevens and two future second-round draft picks and Jaden Springer from the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2024 second-round pick.
While neither deal is considered a blockbuster trade, they successfully addressed Boston’s objective of strengthening depth. Tillman and Springer bring exceptional defensive versatility, enhancing the Celtics’ short- and long-term roster.
Additionally, on a much lesser scale, like Holiday and Porzingis, Tillman and Springer have been on Boston’s radar.
“We’ve always liked Xavier. He is, obviously, big and strong. Moves his feet well laterally. He’s been able to guard a number of people at a number of different positions, well. Above that, he plays the game for the right reasons. He competes. He passes. He thinks the game well. You know, all this stuff that we’ve been fortunate with the guys we have around our best players that they’ve brought to the table,” Stevens said on Tillman.
“He knows how to play. We’re excited to have him. He’s a guy we’ve always liked and thought could be of help. We’ll see how that stuff all plays itself out. I mean, at the end of the day, what it does is give us a lot of flexibility.”
While his statistics may not stand out on paper, averaging 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 20.6 minutes per game over 34 appearances with Memphis this season, he possesses elite defensive skills and valuable postseason experience. This makes him a crucial asset, providing valuable insurance if Porzingis or Al Horford is sidelined.
Although it’s a smaller sample size, Tillman ranked in the 99th percentile in defensive estimated plus-minus — standing as one of just 14 players in the league averaging at least one block and one steal per game.
The 25-year-old has also held his own against some of the league’s most talented players, headlined by Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, and Kawhi Leonard.
If Tillman is called upon during the playoffs, it will be a situation he is familiar with. The Michigan State product has seen 340 career postseason minutes and has previously guarded opponents such as Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns in playoff matchups.
Following the acquisition of Tillman, Stevens acknowledged that an immediate move wasn’t on the horizon for the C’s, prompting them to initiate discussions regarding various prospects across the league.
“After we got Xavier, there wasn’t much motivation. We knew that what we had from the standpoint of, you know, another big that could play alongside Al and Kristaps, but also as a standalone, big that can give you depth, that was our biggest area of focus.” Stevens said.
“And from that point, it was just continuing to circle back on some of these young prospects around the league that we were most intrigued by that we could take into the TPE with a second-round pick or so.”
Springer fit the criteria, and to the surprise of 76ers fans, the 21-year-old found himself traded to Boston.
“We’ve tracked his development pretty closely over the years. We liked him in the draft a few years ago. He was the youngest player in that draft. And again, he’s still like, he’s still a puppy, still 21 years old,” Stevens said on Springer.
Springer was a first-round pick (28th overall) by the Sixers in 2021, and he appeared in 50 games for Philadelphia over the last two-plus seasons.
He has appeared in 32 games this season for the 76ers, playing a reserve role, averaging 4.0 points, 1.1 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game.
Like Tillman, Springer is also a terrific defender. Per Cleaning The Glass, Springer ranks in the 99th percentile among wings in both block and steal percentages.
The 6-foot-4 wing has also impressed in the G-League, earning G-League Finals MVP honors last season behind massive Game 1, scoring 43 points and blocking four shots. Over the Finals, he went 8 for 13 from three-point range.
Although Springer may be initially seen as a prospect for Boston, Stevens doesn’t dismiss the possibility of him making an immediate impact.
“He’s younger than most of the guys that we’re looking at in the draft,” Stevens said. “He is an athlete that can play athletically in the playoffs. But, he also has a lot of growing to get better, and he’s committed to that, and he’s got a long runway ahead of him. So we’ll see how this year shakes itself out for him. See how it all fits with the team, but he’s a guy that we believe in.”
Given the upcoming implementation of the new CBA restrictions this summer, and the existing cap constraints Boston faces, prioritizing the acquisition and development of young talent becomes paramount for the Celtics. In that regard, the Celtics took a step in the right direction at the deadline. This is an area where the Celtics have found success, as evidenced by their ability to discover and develop players like Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, and Neemias Queta.
The signings of Springer and Tillman are beneficial for both the short and long term, showcasing another shrewd move by Stevens and the front office during the deadline.
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