Brad Cooked: Boston Celtics fans react to underrated Spurs trade

There Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens was again — making an underrated trade that saved money on the team’s bottom line and opens up flexibility for the buyout market following the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

In dealing Noah Vonleh, Stevens saved the Celtics $7.1 million on the luxury tax per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. With Vonleh being benched in the wake of Robert Williams’ return to Boston’s lineup, dealing his salary was a no-brainer. The San Antonio Spurs, the team that is taking him on, will be able to waive his non-guaranteed salary in return.

Vonleh has likely earned a spot on another NBA team through his 23 appearances in the 2022-23 season for the Cs, but Boston is pursuing shooting at the trade deadline and Vonleh made just one of his four 3-point attempts in those games.

Boston Celtics fans endorse Brad Stevens’ Noah Vonleh trade with the Spurs

Seeing Brad Stevens do competent thing after competent thing while in charge of the Boston Celtics front office is inspiring. Even if Stevens doesn’t hit a home run, he works hard to keep his team flexible with every transaction. When the pieces fit, he doles out long-term investments.

This strategy’s latest triumph was celebrated on social media, with Celtics fans and NBA fans alike giving Stevens his metaphorical flowers:

Of course, the Spurs benefitted too as some fans pointed out:

Brian Wright cooked. Brad cooked. The Celtics and Spurs continued their trade partnership that started with the Derrick White trade last February with this latest Vonleh trade.

Sounds like a win-win to the Houdini.