While the Celtics made their most significant transaction before the trade deadline Tuesday by sending Anfernee Simons to the Bulls in exchange for big man Nikola Vucevic, they spent Thursday clearing roster space, saving money and getting under the luxury tax with a series of minor but important transactions.
The club parted ways with recently acquired Josh Minott, sending the young wing to the Nets for cash considerations, while getting his $2.3 million salary off the books.
Minott’s time in Boston was star-crossed as he made a positive impression in training camp, became a starter and then lost his minutes and then missed 16 out of 17 games because of coach’s decisions and an ankle injury. He was ineffective in his spot minutes in the past week.
In his final appearance with the Celtics on Wednesday night in Houston, Minott airballed an open 3-pointer, committed a turnover but pulled down two rebounds in seven minutes. The Celtics signed Minott to a two-year deal this summer — the second year non-guaranteed — after three seasons with the Timberwolves.
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The Celtics also moved little-used center Xavier Tillman and cash to the Hornets, another cost-cutting move. While Tillman was a popular locker-room figure, he couldn’t crack the rotation the past two years and played just 14 games this season.
Brad Stevens, the Celtics president of basketball operations, traded veteran Chris Boucher to the Jazz for two-way guard John Tonje. Boucher was signed to supplement the frontcourt but never could carve a role and played just nine games this season. The Celtics held Boucher out of the lineup and kept him home during the team’s recent two-game Texas swing while seeking a trade.
Tonje, who will be 25 in April, played at Colorado State, Missouri, and Wisconsin before being drafted by the Jazz last June (53rd overall). He has yet to play in an NBA game.
Tonje filled the vacant two-way spot held by center Amari Williams, who was signed to a two-year standard NBA contract after some impressive play over the past month. Williams can still play for G-League Maine, but will also be playoff eligible for the Celtics.
The moves allowed the Celtics to get under the first salary cap apron as they shed nearly $8 million in salaries, giving them the ability to sign a player via the buyout market regardless of salary while avoiding the repeater tax.
The Celtics have spent the past several months paring payroll to get out of the second salary cap apron. Stevens was able to trade three players who weren’t in the organization’s long-term plans and give the club more long-term flexibility.
With Williams’s promotion, the Celtics are now at 12 players and have two weeks to add two players and are likely to use the buyout market or 10-day contracts to fill the roster. There is also the option of promoting Ron Harper Jr. to a standard contract after an impressive performance in his first NBA start against the Rockets, scoring 11 points in 33 minutes in a 114-93 victory.
There are several potential buyout candidates who could immediately fill a role such as former Cleveland guard Lonzo Ball, former Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. and former Nets guard Cam Thomas. There are several other veterans who are expected to be waived in coming days who could be available before the March 1 deadline.
Vucevic, acquired for Simons, is expected to make his Celtics debut on Friday against the Heat. The deal was finally made official Thursday with the Celtics and Bulls also exchanging second-round picks.
Meanwhile, neither Jaylen Brown (hamstring, knee) nor Sam Hauser (thumb) were on the injury list as the Celtics prepared for their final three games before the All-Star Break.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.
