Hawks wing, Grizzlies big teased by analyst as Boston Celtics trade deadline options

MassLive's Brian Robb teased that he'd have intel in the coming weeks about the Boston Celtics' trade deadline plans while answering a reader's question in the latest Celtics Mailbag, and in doing so, he evoked the names of Atlanta Hawks wing Saddiq Bey and Memphis Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman.

"The Celtics have the $6.2 million Grant Williams TPE that will expire at the trade deadline so you have to think that Boston will try to put that to use in some form," Robb wrote. "The problem for them is finding a type of wing that will actually be available and an appealing addition in that price range. Could a guy like Saddiq Bey become available if the Hawks turn into sellers? Or will Boston long for some big-man insurance with a guy like Xavier Tillman in Memphis. We will be going over the options in far greater depth here at MassLive in the weeks to come but finding a nice fit at a reasonable asking price is tougher than anticipated."

Bey would be the higher-ceiling option, though a path to minutes would be less clear than the center position; where Tillman can slide ahead of Luke Kornet should the second unit's chemistry fade from its current peak this season.

Boston Celtics not looking for game-changer at trade deadline

The Celtics are not looking to add a game-changer to the roster at the trade deadline, likely due to the price it'd take to land one. Bey qualifies as one more so than Tillman, but his role would likely not be one if Boston were to land him. Messing with Sam Hauser's role isn't even something under consideration, let alone any of the starting five's roles.

All signs point to the team staying static opposed to making a splash. Brad Stevens built a supposedly top-heavy roster that has turned out to be deep enough to survive a playoff run sans a serious injury.

Any even minor inconvenience via injury in the coming weeks would change this trajectory, though. As is always the case in sports.