Celtics Trade Deadline Recap; Stevens works the Margins
2/10/22 by Andrew Carter
A busy trade deadline saw a lot of moves being made around the league, especially in the Eastern Conference. With blockbuster deals taking place as early as Sunday and continuing well into Thursday, the power dynamic in the East has shifted dramatically.
Photo Courtesy of MGN
The Boston Celtics, meanwhile, kept their moves to a minimum, instead opting to improve the roster through smaller additions to the core. Here’s what GM Brad Stevens and the Celtics did on deadline day.
CELTICS RECEIVE: Derrick White
SPURS RECEIVE: Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, Celtics 2022 First-Round Pick (Top-4 Protected), 2028 First-Round Pick Swap (Top-1 Protected)
Derrick White is a serviceable combo guard, averaging just over 14 PPG and 5 AST through 48 starts for San Antonio. However, he has seen his shooting splits take a dive this season, specifically from range. White is shooting 31.4% from three this year, after shooting 34.6% and 36.6% in his two prior seasons.
Josh Richardson was never going to be more than a fringe role player, and while Romeo Langford showed flashes, his future with the team was also cloudy. The first-round pick was the main piece of the trade, especially in a draft class loaded with talented guards. Non-lottery picks tend to be overvalued by most, but a savvy GM can turn those picks into gems (Robert Williams is a recent example – he was selected 27th overall).
The 2028 pick-swap shouldn’t factor into anything major. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will still be in their respective primes by that time, and hopefully carrying Boston to the top of the East.
CELTICS RECEIVE: 2023 Second-Round Pick (Protected 31-55)
MAGIC RECEIVE: Bol Bol, P.J. Dozier, 2028 Second-Round Pick (Protected 31-45), Cash Considerations
Boston aimed to get themselves under the luxury tax by dumping two injured players in a deal with the Magic. Stevens freed up two roster spots in the process, lost and gained inconsequential second-round picks, and sent some cash to Orlando. The real winner of this deal? Wyc Grousbeck and the Boston Basketball Partners.
CELTICS RECEIVE: Daniel Theis
ROCKETS RECEIVE: Dennis Schröder, Enes Freedom, Bruno Fernando
Vanilla Theis returns to Boston. Though the contract is a bit bloated (four years, $36M), Theis can easily slide behind Williams and Horford as depth. Schröder exits as the headliner of the deal, but his role is easily replaced by the incoming White. Also gone are the scantly-played Freedom and Fernando, the former being bought out by the Rockets. More cost-cutting for the Celtics, with the added benefit of Theis’ return.