The Boston Celtics created a $6.2 million trade exception when they acquired Grant Williams and moved him to the Dallas Mavericks. They would normally have the trade exemption for a year since they created it in the 2023 offseason. Bobby Marks, an ESPN commentator and former NBA executive, clarified why that won’t be the case.
Marks teased the Celtics trade guide, saying, “That trade exception will go away once we get past the deadline.” “Teams that are over the apron no longer have access to that trade exception once the deadline passes and we enter the offseason.”
The space on the Celtics’ roster that is now unoccupied might be filled by anyone they sign with the Grant Williams TPE. With the trade exception, their possibilities for who they can acquire are restricted. They have also allowed significant transaction exceptions to expire in the past.
When they acquired Evan Fournier in 2021 and moved him to the New York Knicks, they established a trade exception. They held it for a year, but after making their offseason splashes with the additions of Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari, they eventually let it expire.
The Recent Trade Exception History of the Celtics
Over the past few years, the Celtics have accumulated a formidable collection of trade exceptions, the most recent coming from the Grant Williams transaction. When they’ve got them, they’ve also managed to make use of them. They’ve helped them acquire some of their most important players by using them.
When the Celtics acquired Gordon Hayward and transferred him to the Charlotte Hornets in 2020, they established a $28.5 million trade exception. They applied that trade exception to Josh Richardson and Fournier, whose contract was about to expire. Then, they acquired Derrick White by using Richardson.
When the Celtics moved Tristan Thompson to the Indiana Pacers in 2021, they generated a $9.7 million trade exception. In 2022, they repurchased Daniel Theis from the Houston Rockets by using the exception. This was then a part of the trade that resulted in the Jrue Holiday trade and the trade that sent Malcolm Brogdon to the Celtics.
They established a $5.9 million trade exception when they dealt Dennis Schröder for Theis. They acquired Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder by using the exception. Subsequently, they traded Kristaps Porzingis for Muscala.
They currently possess the $6.2 million trade exception that the Grant Williams transaction generated. In recent years, the Celtics have made good use of their exceptions. If they do employ the Williams TPE, it’s hard to predict how they’ll use it.
Ex-Celtic Gordon Hayward Is Most Likely Sold Out
With the exception of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams, the Hornets have made everyone on the table available, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Gordon Hayward, a former Celtic, is among them. Though Hayward might find a new team, Fischer stated that it probably won’t happen through a trade.
While rival clubs are interested in veteran wing Gordon Hayward, Fischer stated in a January 17 piece that “he seems more likely to change teams by way of a buyout, as opposed to a rival club sending out $30 million to match his expiring salary.”
Hayward will not be able to sign with the Celtics again if the Hornets buy him out. The Celtics are limited to signing players who make $12.2 million or less because they are above the tax threshold. Given that Hayward is paid $31.5 million this season, it is not feasible. He has until 2024 to fulfill his deal, so they may attempt to sign him again in free agency.
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