Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
2:42pm: The deal is official, the Thunder and Celtics announced. The second-rounder headed to the Thunder is a protected 2018 selection, according to Oklahoma City. Boston’s announcement calls it a conditional 2018 pick, so the protection is probably such that it may not ever end up conveying to the Thunder.
To recap, the Thunder get that pick, while the Celtics get Jones, Detroit’s 2019 second-round pick and cash.
2:03pm: The pick going to the Celtics is Detroit’s 2019 second-rounder, which Oklahoma City picked up in the Reggie Jackson trade, Mayberry reports (on Twitter).
1:51pm: The second-rounder headed Boston’s way isn’t one of OKC’s own picks, a source Himmelsbach (Twitter link).
1:47pm: A protected second-round pick is going to Oklahoma City in the move, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman (on Twitter). That’ll allow the Thunder to create a trade exception equivalent to Jones’ salary, Mayberry notes. The Celtics will absorb Jones into cap space, tweets former Nets executive Bobby Marks.
1:30pm: The Thunder will trade Perry Jones III to the Celtics, along with a second-round pick and cash, reports Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). It’s not entirely clear what’s going back to Oklahoma City, but it doesn’t amount to much, Bulpett says, indicating that it’s a move the Thunder are making with luxury tax savings in mind. Indeed, the deal stands to save the Thunder some $7MM in combined salary and tax payments, tweets Royce Young of ESPN.com.
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Oklahoma City had been carrying a payroll of about $98MM, well above the $84.74MM tax threshold, and moving off of Jones’ salary, worth more than $2.038MM, has reportedly been a priority. Chris Mannix of SI.com reported before the draft that the Thunder were shopping the former 28th overall pick, among others, adding after the draft that Oklahoma City was holding out for a first-round pick. That sort of return for Jones wasn’t to be, but it appears as though the Thunder have at least unloaded his rookie scale contract, which is entering its final season.
It’s unclear if the Celtics envision Jones as part of their long-term plan, and indeed much is in flux for the Celtics, as a source tells Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe that the team is active on many fronts (Twitter link). Jones, who turns 24 in September, is eligible for a rookie scale extension, though that seems unlikely. The forward is coming off a career year for the Thunder, who thrust him into more minutes than before amid injuries to much of their usual rotation players, but he still put up only 4.3 points in 14.7 minutes per game.
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Great move by the celtics. Perry Jones is an athletic freak and has great potential. Hopefully brad Stevens can find a role for him
Hate to see PJ3 leave but he had chances in OKC and didn’t take advantage of them. I hope Brad Stevens can turn PJ3 career around. Good luck and wish you the best PJ3
We didn’t get nothing??
Never said they arent getting nothing. It says they arent sure on what the Thunder is getting in return yet.
we don’t need him, trade him, Johnson, and James young and get us a good SF or Center
LOL Amir can’t be traded until mid-December… and I don’t think they signed him to be a trade asset
I remember both Sullinger and Jones dropped in the draft because of injuries, I was hoping the Celtics would take both, instead they took Sully and.. Fab Melo lol
It’s a good move to improve their depth
Personally don’t agree with the thunder letting go of Jeremy Lamb, and now Perry Jones, and matching on Kanter. Those 2 guys were misused during their time there. Perry Jones is a valuable piece as a combo forward, and he has defensive versatility. His length and athleticism are hard to find on the wing
Great move for the Celtics, in my opinion. This fills the spot on the wing that I felt they still needed. It does become interesting though. They have a lot of players that can play the 4, and a lot of guards. They can still probably use a rim protector
considering the number of players on c’s roster, i wonder if a non-guaranteed contract would be heading to OKC. if so, phil pressey is a solid grab