Grading the Mike Muscala trade for the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics were not exceptionally active at the trade deadline, but they did make one move. Boston acquired six-foot-10 big man Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Justin Jackson and two second round picks, per multiple reports on February 9.
Muscala is the depth big man the Celtics have long said to have been seeking at the trade deadline. He adds another floor spacer and sharpshooter to the team. Muscala averages 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game on an efficient 39.4% on 3.3 attempts per game from deep on the season. He also provides injury insurance for the likes of Al Horford and Robert Williams.
Money wise, Muscala’s $3.5 million salary will fit right into the $5.9 million traded player exception the Celtics had from the Dennis Schroder trade at last year’s deadline. As a result of this trade, the Boston Celtics tax bill has been increased by $6.4 million from $58.9 million to $65.3 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Additionally, it is important to note the fact Muscala has a $3.5 million club option on his contract for next season as well, so the Cs could very well keep him going forward into the next year. Retaining Muscala could be significant, as Grant Williams may sign elsewhere this Summer.
The Celtics did not have many minutes to offer in their already deep rotation, so it was not surprising to see them make only one small move at the deadline. However, the Celtics acquisition of Muscala came at a very cheap price in a position of need.
Boston may not be done either, as there will be a plethora of names for the Celtics to monitor in the buyout market. This trade is not a home run move for the Celtics, but they did not need a home run move — they just needed to hit singles, as Brad Stevens says.