MEMPHIS, Tenn — The Memphis Grizzlies made their second trade in as many weeks before the February 8th NBA Trade Deadline. Xavier Tillman is being traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for two second round picks, according to the ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The second round picks include a 2027 pick from the Atlanta Hawks and a 2030 second from the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics will also trade forward Lamar Stevens to the Grizzlies, Wojnarowski said in a tweet.
Tillman is in his fourth year in the NBA, all with the Memphis Grizzlies organization. He was drafted in the second round, 35th overall in the 2020 NBA draft. The former Michigan State center is a solid frontcourt piece and versatile defender that the Grizzlies used to guard some of the best bigs in the league with career averages of 6.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game shooting 52%.
Famously humble, he asked to go to the NBA summer league as a third year player and spend time in the G-League with the Memphis Hustle when he was not getting a ton of minutes in the 2022-2023 season.
The Grizzlies have now stock piled five second round picks in the last two weeks. They have two in the 2024 NBA draft (Warriors, Thunder) , two in the 2027 draft (own, Hawks) and two in 2030 (own, Mavericks). On Feb.1, the Grizzlies traded fan favorite center, Steven Adams, to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks.
The Grizzlies return to the floor Thursday, Feb. 8th in FedExForum when they play the Chicago Bulls.