According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Boston Celtics have traded Xavier Tillman to the Charlotte Hornets. The deal was reported over an hour after the deadline had passed.
The move means that the Celtics have officially ducked the luxury tax, which could open up significant flexibility this summer in regard to future roster construction.
Tillman hadn’t been a focal point of the rotation this season. He only appeared in 14 games for Boston, averaging 2.2 points and 1.8 assists.
Tillman was way more than an end-of-the-bench guy. Everyone loved him.
From the moment Tillman stepped into the Celtics locker room, he was a connecting piece. He helped them win the 2024 NBA Championship with his limited minutes in the NBA Finals, but ever since then, he’s just been a voice.
A guy for teammates to turn to. Someone Joe Mazzulla trusted to play spot minutes from time to time. But the luxury tax line was calling.
The pathway for Boston to duck below the tax line was too clear, and Tillman wasn’t bringing enough on the court to justify keeping him around while also having to pay the tax.
Financially, the Celtics were extremely smart at the deadline. But from a human standpoint, losing Tillman is a brutal blow.
