The Boston Celtics didn't just make noise at the 2026 NBA trade deadline - they made a series of calculated moves that reshaped their roster and, just as importantly, trimmed their financial footprint by staying under the luxury tax. In total, Boston executed four separate trades, each with a clear purpose: stay competitive while maintaining long-term flexibility.
The headline deal? Anfernee Simons is headed to the Chicago Bulls, and in return, the Celtics landed two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic.
It’s a move that adds a proven interior presence to Boston’s frontcourt - a savvy veteran who can stretch the floor, rebound, and provide stability in the post. For a team with championship aspirations, Vucevic brings playoff experience and offensive versatility that could prove invaluable down the stretch.
But that wasn’t all. Boston also moved a pair of big men - Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman - sending Boucher to the Utah Jazz and Tillman to the Charlotte Hornets. These weren’t blockbuster trades, but they served a purpose: clearing roster space, managing minutes, and positioning the Celtics for potential buyout market activity.
Speaking of buyouts, the New York Knicks are already scanning the waiver wire for reinforcements, and names like Boucher and Tillman are starting to pop up as potential targets.
Boucher, now 33, might not be the most physically imposing forward at 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds, but he brings two things that every playoff team values: shot-blocking and the ability to hit an open three. He's not the kind of player who’s going to anchor a defense or bully opponents in the paint, but in the right role - especially off the bench - he can give a team like the Knicks a different look.
The question is whether Boucher, whose playing time has dwindled (just nine games with the Celtics this season, averaging 2.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.4 minutes), would be interested in a limited role. At this stage in his career, he may be looking for a situation where he can carve out a more consistent spot - or at least one with a clear path to minutes.
Still, there’s value in his résumé. Boucher has postseason experience, including two NBA titles in 2018 and 2019. For a Knicks team looking to add depth and playoff-tested veterans, that could be enough to warrant a closer look.
Tillman is another name being floated as a potential buyout option. Acquired by Boston from Memphis back in February 2024, the 27-year-old forward played in 67 regular season games for the Celtics, averaging 2.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per game.
He also contributed during Boston’s championship run in 2023-24, appearing in eight playoff games. His numbers won’t jump off the page, but he’s a reliable, low-maintenance big who knows his role and brings a championship pedigree - something that holds weight in locker rooms come playoff time.
And then there’s Kelly Olynyk, a familiar face in Boston. The 34-year-old Canadian big man began his NBA career with the Celtics, playing four seasons from 2013 to 2017.
During that stretch, he averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds across 278 games. Since then, he’s taken a well-traveled path around the league, suiting up for seven different teams.
Olynyk remains a skilled offensive big who can shoot, pass, and operate within a system - exactly the kind of veteran presence teams often look for when rounding out a playoff rotation.
As the dust settles on the trade deadline, the Celtics have retooled and reloaded, while other contenders - like the Knicks - are eyeing the next phase: the buyout market. Names like Boucher, Tillman, and Olynyk may not dominate headlines, but in the right situation, they could end up making a real impact when it matters most.