SAD NEWS:Brad Steven was found dead in his apartment early hours of this morning

One of the things the Celtics did during the trade deadline was to hold onto an open roster slot in case they needed it for a buyout.

The Boston Celtics acquired Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies one day ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, despite the limitations that accompany being over the second apron and their reluctance to give up any of its rotation fixtures.

This gives head coach Joe Mazzulla a six-foot-eight, 245-pound player with a high IQ who can play with either of the previous two or as a stand-alone big man, upgrading the C’s options behind Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.

In addition, Boston signed a promising 21-year-old player who will remain with the team through the end of the current campaign when he made a trade for Jaden Springer with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The defensive threat that was selected with the 28th overall choice in the 2021 NBA Draft often paid Philadelphia’s confidence by playing with players such as Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry. Celtics supporters will immediately come to love him for his style of play.

Boston also kept an available roster space by trading Dalano Banton and Lamar Stevens.

President of basketball operations Brad Stevens responded as follows when questioned about the team’s intentions with regard to that opening.

“I think we just have to see number one is if there’s somebody that can again provide great depth for our group, but I don’t anticipate a person that vaults into our every night rotation.”