Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs Swing Trade Of Big Man


The Boston Celtics have swung a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sending local product Noah Vonleh down south, along with cash considerations. 

The Spurs have waived Gorgui Dieng to make room on the roster. The salaries of Vonleh and Dieng are nearly identical ($2.6M vs 2.4M), so it still leaves the Spurs $16M under the salary floor. 

But for the Celtics, it's a much more important move.

Saturday was the deadline for Vonleh's contract to become guaranteed, so the Celtics needed to make a move. By opening up a roster spot, as per ESPN's NBA front office expert Bobby Marks, Boston will actually save $7.15M toward the luxury tax, in terms of salary plus tax penalties that they would have been paying.

Justin Jackson, who's on a $1.2M contract that is also set to become guaranteed on Saturday, could be next in line to be sent off by the Celtics. 

Vonleh had only been averaging 7.4 minutes per game, and 1.1 point. 

Photo: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports