Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs Swing Trade Of Big Man

The Boston Celtics have swung a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, sending local product Noah Vonleh down south, along with cash considerations. 

The Boston Celtics are trading C/F Noah Vonleh and cash consideration to the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Spurs will waive Gorgui Dieng to create roster space, sources said.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 5, 2023

The Spurs have waived Gorgui Dieng to make room on the roster. The salaries of Vonleh and Dieng are nearly identical ($2.6M vs 2.4M), so it still leaves the Spurs $16M under the salary floor. 

But for the Celtics, it's a much more important move.

The Noah Vonleh contract was set to become guaranteed on Saturday Jan. 7.

The move opens up a roster spot and saves Boston $7.15M toward the luxury tax.

Cap space in San Antonio: $27.1M

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) January 5, 2023

Saturday was the deadline for Vonleh's contract to become guaranteed, so the Celtics needed to make a move. By opening up a roster spot, as per ESPN's NBA front office expert Bobby Marks, Boston will actually save $7.15M toward the luxury tax, in terms of salary plus tax penalties that they would have been paying.

Justin Jackson, who's on a $1.2M contract that is also set to become guaranteed on Saturday, could be next in line to be sent off by the Celtics. 

Vonleh had only been averaging 7.4 minutes per game, and 1.1 point. 

Photo: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports