Boston Celtics Receive: Thaddeus Young
San Antonio Spurs Receive: 2022 First-Round Pick, 2023 Second-Round Pick (via POR)
The Boston Celtics fill the hole in their frontcourt landing Thaddeus Young from the San Antonio Spurs. This is the second time that Young is traded this offseason, as the Spurs acquired him from the Chicago Bulls in the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade.
In exchange for Young, the Spurs receive a 2022 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick via the Toronto Raptors. Making the salaries work with Boston would have resulted in the Spurs taking back at least three players, but they do not have the roster space for that. Instead, the Celtics will use part of their trade exception created from Evan Fournier signing with the New York Knicks to make this deal work.
Why would the Spurs do this trade without getting any players back? Because it sets them up for a future deal.
In this scenario, the Spurs add another first-round pick to their stash. It is the second first-rounder they have acquired this offseason, giving them multiple picks in 2022 and 2025, in addition to all of their own.
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That will only strengthen their trade proposals in pursuit of someone such as Ben Simmons. The Philadelphia 76ers asked for a young player, four first-rounders and three pick swaps from the Spurs in exchange for him. While that deal was quickly declined, the Spurs do have extra first-round picks to now offer in a deal.
Even if they are unable to work out a deal for a player such as Simmons, essentially flipping DeRozan for two first-round picks and three second-round picks is excellent work by the front office.
