Xavier Tillman Traded to Boston Celtics

In what has been viewed as the most likely move for the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline, the Grizzlies have traded Xavier Tillman to the Boston Celtics for Lamar Stevens and two future second round picks.

With Tillman being in the final year of the four year contract he received after being the 35th pick in the 2020 draft, it seemed likely that he would leave via unrestricted free agency this summer. As a result, the logical move for Memphis was to gain future value for Tillman by sending him to a team that valued his excellent defensive production, versatility and intelligence as a rotation player. Over the past several days, multiple reports had suggested many teams were keeping tabs on Tillman’s availability. In the end, it is hard to deny there is a better place for him to wind up than Boston.

In 207 career games with Memphis, Tillman averaged 6.2 points, 4.3 boards, 1.4 assists, and nearly a steal per game. His role with Memphis has seen its ups and downs, from being a playoff starter in multiple postseasons to being out of the rotation at times. However, one of the biggest strengths of Tillman is his constant readiness to fill whatever role needed when he was called upon. And for the Grizzlies, he filled several of those roles quite well.

The likely reason the Celtics made the move for Tillman is due to his defensive impact and versatility. Tillman has a track record of defending elite centers quite well and holding his own against bigger wings. He also has been tasked with guarding such players as Karl-Anthony Towns, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis in past playoff matchups. While Tillman will clearly be a reserve in Boston, he could be a very beneficial chess piece to feature in certain matchups. And while his offense has struggled this year, he clearly has the ability to be better on that end of the court. Overall, positive results usually occur when Tillman is on the court.

In return for Tillman, the Grizzlies are receiving Lamar Stevens, the Hawks 2nd round pick in 2027, and the Mavericks 2nd rounder pick in 2030. Stevens is a wing/small forward who has played 122 minutes in Boston this year. While the current state of the Grizzlies roster may result in Stevens seeing some time in the near future, it is just as likely Stevens could be waived in a short manner as well to clear a roster spot. That likely will be determined based on any other moves that could happen in the next 24 hours.

The other significant development for the Grizzlies is the future assets they now have gained/created in the trades of Steven Adams and Xavier Tillman. Five additional second round picks, Victor Oladipo’s expiring $9M+ contract, and a $12.5M Traded Player exception are significant resources that Memphis could use over the next 24 hours, before next year, or into next season to support the roster. In the end, it is hard to see Tillman and Adams depart with how valuable each have been in their time with the Grizzlies, but the future value gained makes the moves a win in my opinion. It also provides extra avenues to find another big man for the future in time.