7:08pm: Tillman has officially re-signed with the Celtics, the club confirmed in a press release.
“When we got Xavier at the trade deadline, he came with the reputation of a winner and great teammate,” president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement. “Xavier is a hard worker who brings grit, toughness, and a team-first mentality that we appreciate. We are excited that Xavier has chosen to come back to the Celtics.”
4:04pm: Another free agent center is returning to Boston, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Xavier Tillman has agreed to a two-year deal with the Celtics. It’ll be a fully guaranteed minimum-salary contract, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter links).
Tillman is the third Celtics free agent big man to reach a contract agreement with the team since the start of free agency, joining teammates Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta. Thirteen of the 15 players who finished the 2023/24 season on the Celtics’ standard roster now appear poised to return for ’24/25, with only Svi Mykhailiuk and Oshae Brissett unsigned.
Tillman spent his first three-and-a-half seasons in Memphis before being sent to the Celtics at February’s trade deadline. The 25-year-old didn’t see a ton of action down the stretch in Boston, averaging 4.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 13.7 minutes per contest across 20 regular season appearances. He then logged just 69 total playoff minutes during the team’s title run.
Still, Tillman is a solid interior defender showed in Memphis that he was capable of playing a slightly larger role than the one he had in Boston.
While the Celtics will have no shortage of frontcourt options with Kornet and Queta also returning, Kristaps Porzingis is expected to miss at least the first month or two of the season while recovering from leg surgery and the team won’t want to lean too heavily on Al Horford, so there will be minutes available.
Stacked.
Brad Stevens is embarrassing the entire NBA.
If Sam Hauser signs an extension, Boston is stacked for 2 years+.
When Sam Hauser signs an extension.
Sorry, I stand corrected.
When Sam Hauser signs an extension, Brad will have locked up 13 Players for 2 years, maybe 14 when the rookie signs.
Everyone is wrong about the Celtics, Brown and Tatum are awesome, but Brad Stevens is the MVP.
In two years they will be over the 2nd apron with only 7 players under contract. This will make it extremely difficult to field a decent bench.
You worry about that in two years.
And?
Yeah, that is the point. They are over the 2nd apron and they have the entire NBA championship team locked for 2 years.
Also, 7 Players locked and the rest the Celtics have Bird rights too and can sign them over them over the cap.
The one Celtic I never worry about is Brad Stevens.
All they lost was Brissett and Myhailiuk who can easily be replaced by Walsh and Scheierman.
Not saying it’s a lock next year, but it’s gonna be tough to beat them.
Again,
Get a veteran wing. If Walsh and Scheirerman can get minutes over a vet, then cool. Veteran who stays ready and can help when needed can’t hurt.
I live in Portland and saw Walsh play a lot in the Gleague. I think he’s going to surprise people.
Still, you’re right, get a veteran wing, leave the 15th spot open for buyouts and done.
He plays hard, decent all round game but both young. That Scheirerman is Hauser 2.0, hopefully a little more athletic. Move his feet laterally a little quicker, get up and down a little quicker would be good. Having said that….Hauser improved his lateral movement and applied himself on D quite well this season, obviously worked off the court.
Not against Fournier on minimum.
Heard Walsh is known for his defense?
Very good on D. Very active.
They comped him to Crowder in his draft, though he’s more 4 than Crowder was originally
6’7 C’s. Weakest era ever. Any era would spank these kids
Considering you’re talking up the era of Jim Luscotoff and are talking about spanking kids, I assume you’re old AF?
I’m old AF, too, but I admit you play and plan out your team to mirror the era. A guy like Walt Bellamy or even Jack Sikma would get whipped in this era.
You forget that the Celtics D switches everything. X is perfect for that system.
well now that you’re done with silly comment you can go back to yelling at a cloud
And, get off my lawn!
Guess that one 3 earned him a few more million dollars!
Boston so far hands down has had the best offseason and it involves no new names
Reminder- Grass isn’t always greener
These dudes are so locked in and deserve a good long vacation here soon, front office down to the towel boys
I still don’t get how they got him for nothing, and now they’re keeping him for nothing…amazing for Boston, but I would have thought he should gef opportunities in many places…
I thought he was gone too. X could of played for many NBA teams. I assume that Brad and Joe have convinced him that the repeat and that he will most likely be taking over KPs job at first and then Als job second was a big motivator for his resigning.
Celtics have PF/C minutes available.
Definitely huge behind Horford at the 5/4, and both should be super influences on Anton Watson, who they took at like 54 in the draft, and has a lot of similarities to Horford, based on his profile
Also looks like they’ll keep Dustin Peterson, who they stole from the Heat, who shockingly decided to keep Swider over him for some reason. Not that he has anything to do with those guys lol, but just pointing it out.
Brad Stevens not satisfied with just one “Executive of the Year” award. The man wants more. Go for it.