3 Celtics Players Are Now Eligible to be Traded

December 15th marks the unofficial start of NBA trade season, as players who signed contracts as free agents during the offseason are now eligible to be traded.

This includes 85 total players and three members of the Boston Celtics .

As title favorites, the Celtics are unlikely to make any major moves before the February 6th trade deadline.

Nevertheless, its still interesting to consider the implications of these three players being available for trade.

Additionally, with the second apron cap restrictions, one of these players may be traded in a salary-shedding move.

Lets dive into the three trade-eligible Celtics and determine if any of them could be moved.

3 Celtics Players Are Now Eligible to be Traded Neemias Queta Neemias Queta has been a revelation for the Celtics this season.

He has seen his minutes jump from 11.9 to 17.9 per game.

Furthermore, Queta is averaging 5.9 points, 5 rebounds, and a block per game.

Quetas interior presence on both ends of the floor, especially as a rebounder and rim runner, has been very valuable to the Celtics.

Even with Kristaps Porzingis return, Queta has been a consistent part of the Celtics rotation, averaging 16.8 minutes per game.

Considering Quetas emergence in the Celtics rotation and his upside at 25, the Celtics wont be looking to trade him.

Queta signed a three-year $7.1 million contract this offseason, which is great value given his play this season.

Ultimately, Queta has established himself as a high-quality rotational center for the Celtics and is an important part of their future.

Luke Kornet Luke Kornet s minutes have been somewhat lackluster this season, especially with Quetas emergence.

On the season, Kornet is averaging 16.8 minutes; however, since Porzingis has returned, he is averaging 12.8 minutes.

Kornet is averaging 4.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.

While Kornet isnt a perfect player, he is an efficient lob threat and shot blocker.

Joe Mazzulla has trusted Kornet and given him quality minutes for the past three seasons.

Kornet is also on a reasonable one-year $2 million contract .

As a result, trading Kornet feels very unlikely.

Xavier Tillman Xavier Tillman is the odd man out in the Celtics big-man rotation .

He is averaging nine minutes in 16 games but also has nine coachs DNPs, including four DNPs, since Porzingis has returned.

Tillmans season high in minutes is 18, but with Porzingis in the lineup, his season high is just eight minutes.

His season average is just 1.1 points and 2 rebounds on 25 percent shooting from the field.

While Tillman has an intriguing skill set as a high-IQ big man, its clear that Queta and Kornet are ahead of Tillman in the rotation.

As a result, the 2024 trade deadline acquisition could be on the move again.

Additionally, Tillmans two-year $4.7 million contract gives the Celtics some financial incentive to trade him.

The Celtics are deep in the second apron and desperately looking for some cap relief.

A possible Tillman trade would likely only yield a future second-round pick, with the main appeal for the Celtics being clearing cap space.

Despite his lack of minutes this season, Tillman could be an intriguing trade target for several teams, given his knack for rebounding and connective playmaking ability.

The 25-year-old big man was an important part of the Memphis Grizzlies rotation this could make other teams optimistic about trading for Tillman.

Ultimately, Tillman is the most likely Celtic to be traded, but its far from a certainty that he will be dealt.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission..

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