Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Memphis Grizzlies are trading big man Xavier Tillman to the Boston Celtics for Lamar Stevens, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2030 second-round pick. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports added after Wojnarowski’s initial reports that Memphis also received Lamar Stevens from the Celtics in the deal.
Brad Stevens Adds Big Man to Bolster Boston Bench
The number one seed in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics add front court depth for their playoff run in Xavier Tillman, who has averaged 6.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Grizzlies this season, with his only genuine concern being poor shooting efficiency. Boston is hoping Tillman can revert to the player he was last year in Memphis, who posted a career-high in points, seven per game, and rebounds, five per game while shooting over 60% from the floor. Xavier Tillman was even better during the 2023 playoffs, where his averages increased to 8.7 points, eight rebounds, and over three assists per game while shooting well over 50% from the field.
Tillman can come in as the backup to Kristaps Porzingis and take over many of the minutes for 37-year-old Al Horford, who is currently playing nearly 27 minutes per game, averaging eight points and seven rebounds. Xavier Tillman will be beneficial in the Eastern Conference, with Boston having potential playoff matchups against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Philadelphia 76ers with reigning MVP Joel Embiid. Boston is currently the best rebounding team in the NBA, grabbing nearly 50 rebounds per game, while Tillman’s addition will only strengthen this aspect of the team.
Xavier Tillman this year:
6 Points | 4.6 Rebounds | 1.7 Assists | 1.2 Steals | 1.0 Blocks
Celtics Nation, you got a dawg. pic.twitter.com/Sm0cY7OU5Z
— Tillman Muse (@Tillman_Muse) February 7, 2024
Grizzlies Grim Season
BREAKING : The Celtics are sending Lamar Stevens to the Grizzlies as part Xavier Tillman trade.
(via @wojespn)
WELCOME TO MEMPHIS, @LamarStevens11! Ⓜ️🫡 pic.twitter.com/TkTCp3TH3m
— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) February 7, 2024
Lamar Stevens has barely played for the Celtics this season. Across the 19 games Stevens has appeared in, he has averaged nearly three points per game with two assists in only six minutes. Before joining Boston this season, Stevens spent the past three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his three seasons with Cleveland, Lamar Stevens averaged 5.3 points per game, nearly three rebounds, and a steal across 16 minutes per game. With a severely injured Memphis Grizzlies team, Stevens may receive increased minutes and an opportunity to show his skills as he did before this season in Boston with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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