The Boston Celtics have put themselves in prime position, near the top of the Eastern Conference even without Jayson Tatum having played a second so far this season.
They don't have a ton of financial flexibility as the trade deadline approaches, and besides, they probably don't need a huge move.
Assuming Tatum returns from his torn Achilles sometime in the next couple months, he amounts to the best trade deadline acquisition they could ask for.
They do have one logical candidate to be traded away, though: Chris Boucher.
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Boucher was expected to be a floor-spacing contributor at the center spot when they added him. He hasn't done much, though, and his salary would be nice to move off of.
"Boucher signed a one-year, $2.3 million contract in the offseason, and there was belief he could provide frontcourt depth, especially after averaging 10 PPG last season with Toronto," ESPN's Bobby Marks writes. "Instead, he is playing just 11.4 minutes per game behind Luka Garza and Josh Minott on Boston's depth chart. While it is unlikely the Celtics get under the luxury tax this season (they are $12 million over), trading Boucher would save them $9 million."
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Boucher's contract implications are a good example of how punishing the luxury tax can be.
Even though his contract itself is for only $2.3 million, moving him elsewhere would save the Celtics up to $9 million.
That wouldn't particularly put them in a better position for this season than they already are, but it's not nothing. A savings of $9 million for ownership right now could come in handy later.
The Celtics could keep Boucher around as injury insurance, but otherwise, it's logical to move on from a signing that didn't work out as planned.
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