The Boston Celtics and OKC Thunder could be continuing their trade partnership very soon after the Cs acquired two players that may not play again during the 2021-22 season, Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier.
Apparently, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations acquired the injured pair in order to dodge the luxury tax during a season Cs owner Wyc Grousbeck most certainly doesn’t want to pay extra for.
In such a scenario, the Cs would deal both to the Thunder paired with cash to offset their salaries. It’d be serious GM gamesmanship from Stevens, who has shown the ability to maneuver around the salary cap to get things done.
John Karalis of the Boston Sports Journal floated the idea via Twitter:
Why do this deal this way? My guess: flip Bol Bol and Dozier + cash in separate deals to OKC. They're $20 mil under the cap floor. C's make 2 trades, send $2.1 M & $1.9 M to OKC to pay to waive them. Money is off Boston's books but on OKC's - now they're $16 mil below the floor
— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) January 19, 2022
Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier may never play a game for the Boston Celtics
With seven-foot-six Senegalese super-giant Tacko Fall having left the team in 2021, there’s a void in the hearts of Celtics fans for another super-center. Bol Bol would be one hell of a replacement with unbelievable mobility and range for someone so big…but he may never wear Cs green.
If Bol and Dozier are here merely for a cup of coffee, then it will have cost Boston almost nothing to facilitate their temporary stays. Juan Hernangomez had not been in the rotation at all, and has a much better chance to make waves in a contract year for the San Antonio Spurs. The Denver Nuggets, of course, get the best player in the deal, with Bryn Forbes and his 3-point shooting stroke heading to the Mile High City.