The biggest contract in NBA history was signed by Boston Celtics standout Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. The deal was a five-year, $315 million supermax extension with a player option. In light of this historic trade, CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning discusses the implications for Boston’s future title aspirations and offers his reaction.
Celtics will retain services of veteran center acquired during trade deadline
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who broke the news (via Twitter), Xavier Tillman has returned to Boston as a Celtic, signing a two-year contract. According to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, there will be a fully guaranteed minimum pay contract (Twitter links).
Tillman joins colleagues Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta as the third free agent big man to sign with the Celtics since free agency began. It appears that thirteen of the fifteen players who were on the Celtics’ regular roster at the end of the 2023–24 season will be back for the 2024–25 season, with only Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett still without contracts.
Prior to his trade to the Celtics in February, Tillman played for the Memphis Grizzlies for his first 3.5 seasons. Despite making 20 appearances throughout the regular season, the 25-year-old saw little action in Boston’s last games, averaging 13.7 minutes per game with 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. After that, he played in just 69 minutes of postseason action during the team’s championship run.
Even so, Tillman is a reliable inside defender who proved in Memphis that he could handle a little more responsibility than he did in Boston.
Kоrnet аnd Quetа’s returns meаn the Celtics wоn’t be shоrt оn frоntcоurt оptiоns. Hоwever, Kristаps Pоrzingis will likely miss the first twо mоnths оf the seаsоn recоvering frоm leg surgery, аnd the teаm оbviоusly dоesn’t wаnt tо rely tоо much оn аl Hоrfоrd, sо there will be оppоrtunities fоr оther plаyers tо see аctiоn.