After the trade, Xavier Tillman says an injury will postpone his Celtics debut.
The latest addition to the Celtics lineup, Xavier Tillman, joined his teammates in uniform during the Friday morning practice session as they geared up for their game against the Wizards. However, the sizable player won’t be participating in the Friday night match due to an ongoing left knee injury.
On Wednesday, Boston acquired Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies, trading Lamar Stevens and two second-round picks in return. Despite being present in Boston, Tillman has been sidelined for the past week with the Grizzlies, including a game in Boston on Sunday, due to his knee problem.
Addressing the media at the Auerbach Center on Friday, Tillman discussed his injury, stating, “I still have some time to feel better with my left knee and stuff like that. So I don’t have a timeline. We’re actually just getting here and meeting with the trainers and stuff like that. So we’ll go through it pretty soon here.”
With four games left until the All-Star Break and the Celtics’ frontcourt in good health, there appears to be no urgency to rush Tillman back onto the court. Recognizing Tillman’s injury history, particularly with Memphis, Boston views him as a valuable depth piece, especially in situations where Al Horford or Kristaps Porzingis are rested in back-to-back games. Celtics president of basketball operations, Stevens, praised Tillman’s fit within the team, highlighting his defensive skills and versatility.
Despite Tillman’s transition from one of the NBA’s struggling teams to the league’s top-ranked squad, he remains enthusiastic about the opportunity. Tillman expressed his admiration for the Celtics’ winning history and his eagerness to contribute to a successful organization, citing the team’s repeated appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals.
