After securing All-Star forward Jayson Tatum and former San Antonio Spurs star Derrick White with new contracts, the Boston Celtics have now signed big man Xavier Tillman to a two-year deal. Tillman is the latest member of the 2024 championship team to be extended by the franchise for the upcoming season.
Before joining the NBA, Tillman played college basketball at Michigan State, where he was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and received multiple all-conference honors.
Tillman was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2020 but was quickly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. After several seasons with the Grizzlies, he was traded to the Celtics in 2024 before the deadline.
In the 2023-24 season, Tillman averaged 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while splitting time between the Grizzlies and Celtics. He played a crucial role in Boston’s playoff run, notably hitting a key three-pointer in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks.
With Tatum and White secured, the Celtics have now turned their attention to Tillman. According to Adam Himmelsbach, Tillman’s new deal is fully guaranteed and on a minimum salary basis. Himmelsbach also noted that while Oshae Brissett is exploring opportunities for more playing time elsewhere, a return to Boston is not entirely out of the question.
The Celtics will need Tillman to fill frontcourt gaps, especially with Kristaps Porzingis out for an extended period and veteran Al Horford’s minutes needing management due to his age. Tillman’s defensive versatility is a good fit for Boston’s switch-heavy defensive scheme, providing essential depth for the team.
