This year’s trade deadline was a bizarre one as the biggest buyers were teams outside of playoff contention, while the true contenders mostly stood pat or made moves around the margins. Thanks in part to that overall malaise, the Celtics came away from the deadline as one of the biggest winners in the league.
They brought in a proven veteran big man, Nikola Vucevic, who brings a different element to the frontcourt with his post scoring and floor-spacing ability. They also made three smaller, corresponding moves that allowed the Cs to duck under the luxury tax line, creating significant savings and roster-building flexibility going forward.