Report: Celtics make three-way trade involving Spurs, Nuggets
The first in-season trade of The Brad Stevens Era has arrived for the Boston Celtics.
With the team in the 10th seed in the East and undoubtedly in the midst of analysis their future plans, the Celtics jumped into a three-way trade with Denver and San Antonio to bring center Bol Bol and combo guard P.J. Dozier to the Celtics at the expense of forward Juancho Hernangomez, Denver, Boston and San Antonio are making a three-way trade that includes Juancho Hernangomez to Spurs, Bryn Forbes to Denver, Bol Bol and PJ Dozier to Celtics, sources tell ESPN.
This will, in theory, be the 25-year-old Dozier’s second run with the Celtics, as he signed a two-way deal with the club back in 2018. Dozier, a standout with the Red Claws in 2018-19, would make six appearances for Boston that season. But the 6-foot-6 Dozier, who averaged a career-high 7.7 points per game last year, suffered a torn ACL in November and is on an expiring contract, meaning that the Celtics will not see him on the court at any point this season.
In the case of Bol, who had a trade to Detroit nixed earlier this month due a failed physical, the move to Boston comes just days after he underwent a foot surgery expected to keep him out of action for eight to 12 weeks.
The 7-foot-2 center and son of the late Manute Bol has shot 47.8 percent (54-for-113) from the field, 37.8 percent (14-for-37) from deep, collected 63 rebounds, and totaled 18 blocks in 327 minutes over 53 NBA appearances since 2019.
Bol’s current recovery timeline could see him back on the court in early April (and that definitely seems like best case scenario), which leaves him little if any time to get into game action for the Celtics.
For the Celtics, this was essentially nothing more than a money move, as ditching Hernangomez and his $7 million contract and projected $7.5 million cap hit in 2022-23 will inch the C’s closer to out of the luxury tax.
According to Woj, the Celtics do not plan on waiving either Bol or Dozier, and noted that their Bird Rights “could be useful” to the Celtics.
Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Celtics.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
