Celtics Trade Jaden Springer To Rockets

Celtics Trade Jaden Springer To Rockets

The Boston Celtics are officially not committed to winning. It’s already gross enough that they weren’t willing to carry a 15th man on the roster to save the owner money. Now they’re down to 13 players with the NBA Trade Deadline set to expire tomorrow. Jaden Springer and a 2030 second round pick have been sent to the Rockets for essentially nothing.

Shams Charania of ESPN was the first to report the news:

The Boston Celtics are trading Jaden Springer and their 2030 second-round pick to the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN. Both teams are also exchanging heavily protected second-rounders. pic.twitter.com/rhcmgvvJQo

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2025

I know why Boston made this move. It’s disgusting on all levels but I’ll explain it so that you the viewer understand. This move is about the luxury tax. Here is the official math from Bobby Marks.

Trade impact: Boston/Houston

Celtics

Tax penalty: $65.6M to $50.2M

2 open roster spots

Rockets

Jaden Springer: $4M, RFA 2025

The Rockets are acquiring Springer with part of their $12.8M non-tax ML

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 5, 2025

This move saves the Celtics about $15.4 million in luxury tax penalties. They also have two open roster spots. If they simply fill those spots, this trade saved them zero dollars. It shouldn’t even be legally allowed to not fill your roster but that’s a story for another day.

Daryl Morey Explains Why The 76ers Gave Up On Jaden Springer

Nobody should be thrown off by this move. This is something that has been in the rumor mill for a few months. This move is also gross on just about every level possible.

Here’s Brad Stevens’ explanation why he traded for Springer, in the first place. Keep in mind, the Celtics gave up a second round pick to acquire Springer. Then used another one to get rid of him. They flushed two second round picks because of poor planning. Totally inexcusable.

Look, maybe Springer will never turn into anything. It’s his offense that lags behind the rest of his game. Springer won Boston the game against the Clippers earlier this year with his insane defense. To attach a pick to that guy while getting nothing back just to save money is so pathetic. Especially when you’re talking about a team who just won a title.

This is what the mainstream media will tell you and this is how you should respond (if you’re educated enough to do so).

If you had any balls you would talk about how it’s absolute trash that a team who just won a title (and certainly has a shot to win another this year) just gave away a young player with talent along with a pick just to save the owner money. Disgusting journalism.

— Trey Daubert (@treydaubert) February 5, 2025

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