3 for 1! It's crazy! The league is the first to complete the deal
On February 8, Beijing time, less than 24 hours before the trading deadline. Three deals were closed in the early hours of this morning:
1. The Celtics sent 2 second-round picks + Lamar Stevens to get Tillman from the Grizzlies.
2. The Timberwolves sent Milton + Brown + 1 second-round pick to the Pistons to get Monte Morris.
3. The Jazz sent Fontecchio and got Knox + 1 second-round pick + 1 signing right from the Pistons trade.
These three are not big trades, but the reinforcements of the Celtics and Timberwolves are very targeted. The Celtics are still the first in the league, and the Timberwolves, although they have fallen to third in the West, have long held the first place in the West this season. Let's take a look at the Celtics' 3-for-1 trade first, getting Tillman means strengthening the interior.
Tillman was born on January 12, 1999, and has just turned 25 years old. He is 2.01 meters tall, has an arm span of 2.18 meters and weighs 110 kilograms. Tillman can play the No. 4 and No. 5 positions and should play for Horford off the bench. Horford's form has declined significantly this season, averaging 7.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, setting a new low in points per game.
And then there's Tillman's stats: Played in 34 games for the Grizzlies this season, 13 of which were starts. He averaged 20.6 minutes per game, scoring 6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.2 steals and 1 block, shooting 40.8% from the field, 22.6% from three-point range, and 41.9% from the free throw line. A blue-collar interior line that doesn't shoot, but the style of the ball is hard!
Tillman is the No. 35 pick in 2020 and currently has a four-year, $6.53 million contract and a $1.93 million salary this season. In the playoffs against the Lakers last season, Tillman had a single-game performance of 22 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists, and suppressed the thick eyebrows with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. The Celtics took out 2 second-rotation him, it's not expensive!
The Celtics' reinforcements aren't over yet, and the draft picks currently available for trade include six second-round picks and three first-round picks. What kind of surprises can the Green Army bring in the next ten hours? Next, let's talk about the Timberwolves trade, sending away Sheik Milton, Troy Brown Jr., and a 2030 second-round pick to get Monte Morris.
After the trade closes, the Timberwolves have 13 contracts and a total salary of $1.6 million below the luxury tax line. In addition, the Timberwolves created a $4 million trade exception in the trade. Monte Morris has played in just six games this season due to a right quadriceps strain, averaging 4.5 points, 2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 11.3 minutes per game.
Morris averaged 10.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game with the Wizards last season and 12.6 points, 3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game with the Nuggets in 2021-22. So far in his career, he has played 348 regular season games, averaging 25.4 minutes per game, scoring 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4 assists, and shooting 38.9% from three-point range. The Timberwolves believe he can come back with full blood!
Finally, Fontecchio, the Suns are also interested in Fontecchio, but the Pistons bid higher! Fontecchio played an average of 23.2 minutes per game for the Jazz this season, scoring 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks, shooting 45% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. His two-year, $6.25 million contract expires this summer.
The Pistons want Fontecchio to be a part of the team's future and will most likely sign him to a contract extension this summer. Last question: Who do you think is the biggest winner of these three small deals?