After signing All-Star forward Jayson Tatum and former San Antonio Spurs star Derrick White to new deals, the Boston Celtics have locked big man Xavier Tillman to a two-year contract. This makes him the latest member of the 2024 championship team to get locked down by the franchise for next season.
Before entering the NBA, Tillman played college basketball at Michigan State. During his stint there, the center was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and earned multiple all-conference honors.
![Boston Celtics Make Final Decision on Key Role Player From 2024 Championship Team 1 Boston Celtics, Xavier Tillman](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_23533343_168400517_lowres.jpg)
Tillman was initially drafted by the Sacramento Kings then traded right away to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020. The big man played for the Ja Morant-led team for a few seasons before being traded to the Boston Celtics in 2024 ahead of the deadline.
During the 2023-24 season, Tillman averaged 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while splitting time between the Grizzlies and Celtics. He played a key role for Boston in the playoffs, providing valuable frontcourt depth and making important contributions, including hitting a crucial three-pointer in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks
Boston Celtics Sign Big Man Xavier Tillman to a New Two-Year Deal
![Boston Celtics Make Final Decision on Key Role Player From 2024 Championship Team 2 Boston Celtics, Xavier Tillman](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_23533356_168400517_lowres.jpg)
With Tatum and White locked down, the Celtics then moved on to Tillman. In a pair of tweets by Adam Himmelsbach on X, the big man was reportedly given a new deal by Boston.
“Xavier Tillman’s 2-year deal is fully guaranteed, I’m told. Also, sources say Oshae Brissett is still hoping to find a team that can offer more playing time, but the door is not fully closed on a Boston return,” Himmelsbach tweeted.
“Yes, minimum salary deal for Xavier,” he added.
The Celtics will be without Kristaps Porzingis for an extended period, and the veteran Al Horford’s minutes will need to be managed due to his age. Tillman tasked with filling the frontcourt gaps, with his defensive versatility aligning well with the Celtics’ switch-heavy scheme.
![Boston Celtics Make Final Decision on Key Role Player From 2024 Championship Team 3 Boston Celtics, Xavier Tillman](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_23533539-scaled.jpg)
With Tillman locked in, the Celtics will have one less thing to worry about for next season. Thanks to his presence, they won’t feel the brunt of Porzingis’ absence and Horford’s age that much.
![Boston Celtics Make Final Decision on Key Role Player From 2024 Championship Team 4 Boston Celtics, Xavier Tillman](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_23624306-scaled.jpg)
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