The Celtics made a somewhat surprising trade with a division rival on Thursday, landing third-year guard Jaden Springer from Philadelphia in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick. Speaking to the media on Friday, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the former first-round pick was a player they’d been eyeing for a few years, writes Brian Robb of MassLive.com.
“We’ve tracked his development pretty closely over the years,” Stevens said. “We liked him in the draft a few years ago. He was the youngest player in that draft. He’s still a puppy. He’s still 21 years old. He was unbelievable in the G League playoffs last year. He’s done a lot of good things against us when he’s been up in Maine. We’ve seen him live several times up there. He’s a guy we’ve been tracking for a while.”
Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe hears from a source (Twitter link) that Springer was “strongly endorsed” by a pair of former 76ers assistant coaches who are now with the Celtics — Sam Cassell and Tyler Lashbrook.
“He is an athlete that can play athletically in the playoffs, right?” Stevens said of Springer, per Jay King of The Athletic. “But he also has a lot of growing to get better and he’s committed to that. He’s got a long runway ahead. So we’ll see how this year shakes itself out for him. See how it all fits with the team. But he’s a guy that we believe in.”
Here’s more on the Celtics:
- According to King, Stevens indicated that part of the reason Boston was interested in Springer and Xavier Tillman, the team’s other trade acquisition (from Memphis), is that they’re young players who could develop with the Celtics, who have a chance to retain them long-term. Tillman will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Boston has his Bird rights, so it will be able to potentially re-sign him without worrying about salary cap limitations. Springer, meanwhile, already had his fourth-year team option exercised, and will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2025 if he doesn’t sign a rookie scale extension in the offseason. The Celtics project to be over the second tax apron next season, when they’ll be more limited in how they can construct their roster due to the new CBA.
- Stevens said the front office didn’t want to disrupt the team’s chemistry, which is why the Celtics made a pair of relatively minor moves. As with Springer, Tillman was a player they’d liked for quite a while, particularly due to his defensive versatility and basketball IQ. “He competes, he passes, thinks the game well,” Stevens said, per King. “All the stuff that we’ve been fortunate with the guys we have around our best players, that they brought to the table. He knows how to play. So we’re excited to have him.” However, Tillman indicated that he’s still dealing with a left knee injury and has no timetable for his Celtics debut.
- While Stevens praised two-way center Neemias Queta, who has been viewed as a candidate to be promoted to a standard deal, he said the Celtics aren’t in a rush to fill the opening on their 15-man roster, tweets Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. “I don’t know if making that final decision and saying, ‘OK, these are our 15 guys right now with two months left in the season,’ makes a lot of sense. I think we need to utilize this time to evaluate,” Stevens said.
- The Celtics send the Trail Blazers $3MM in cash as part of their Dalano Banton trade, reports Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
I like these two pickups. The only thing that the Celtics needs is a new coach!
Right they’re going to make a coaching change with the best record in the league. Brilliant insight!
Don’t try to reason with him. He’s holding some type of huge grudge. And so has been posting this same thing time after time, maybe figuring that repeating anything will be taken as the truth eventually as is the fashion today. Go Celtics!
The problem with Mazzulla is, he doesn’t trust the bench in the playoffs. He always use 7-8 players in the playoffs, thats why the starters are forced to play 40+ mins a game. If Porzingis gets hurt, the Celtics will be out in the 2nd round. Mazzulla also have one play… Shoot more 3pt shots.
I’d say three-point shooting is Celtics main game and we all should know that by know. But we’re also seeing game by game we do have other ways to win, like Tatum driving or KP posting up, and both going to the line. So I hope we’re learning and that includes Coach Joe, although I can’t see much he’s doing wrong. Go Celtics!
I feel like Marcus Morris would be a good pick up for that last roster spot. Thoughts?
They can’t pick him up. His salary is over $12.4M, so the CBA won’t let the Celtics pick him up in the buyout market.
He knows the Celts and did well with us and would be great, but …
…and athlete that can play athletically…..that’s some crazy insight. better keep a hot mic on Stevens at all times. he can come up with some astounding insights by times.
“And athlete”
“insights by times”
Bro, you’re making fun of how people communicate?
Brad doesnt speak much. Hasnt since he started coaching. Did you want him to put his thoughts in a Shakespearan sonnet?
Brad made both moves bc he sees how the Celtic have been playing lately. Neither of these guys, Tillman or Spinger, are “projects”. Both will see significant minutes this season. Celtics are flat and lazy on defense. Brad need a Marcus Smart type player who will go out and lock people up and show energy.
Plus, Brad is playing 4D chess and everyone else is playing checkers. He will resign both players as soon as possible for the long term. Both are young. Tillman is 25 and Springer is 21. That gives the Celtics Brown, Tatum, Porzingis, Pritchard, Hauser, Tillman and Springer as a young core on longer deals. Celtics kepted their 1st and will most likely use it or trade it for a young cost controlled player.
Both moves where very smart. Daryl Morey is a fool. He is going for the “Big” move while Brad is suring up the fringes because the new CBA will limit Boston moving forward. Morey will get to spend all his cap space on B free agents.
Brad is extending the window for Brown and Tatum by getting cheap bench players who will contribute. Well, ill hold that thought on Tillman to see what he is asking for, but Brad does have his bird rights.
Wonderful analysis in my view. Near term though Tillman is injured. Let’s hope he heals up and can help as you say.
Great move picking up Stringer for just a 2nd round draft pick. Athletic, good size, tough, talented, plays defense. Think the trade is a steal.
BTW just an aside. Comparing how the Celtic and Sixers ran their front offices during the past decade and how they built their teams is fasinating. Two completely different philosophies.
Take a look at the Brooklyn Nets’ front office track record too.
I don’t understand why Daryl Morey traded Jaden Springer to the Celtics. Philly picked up a second round pick, which is not worth much.
Can anyone explain this one?
Apparently that pick suits the 76ers timeline better than Springer, Daryl Morey said this.