The Boston Celtics are bracing for a transformative offseason, with major roster changes looming due to their precarious salary cap situation. Regardless of their playoff performance in the 2024-25 season, the team’s financial constraints have been a hot topic among fans and analysts alike. The tough decisions about which core players to retain or move fall squarely on the shoulders of President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. With a roster full of highly-paid contributors who have fueled Boston’s recent success, these choices will be anything but easy.
However, one decision from the summer of 2024 has already proven to be a costly misstep: the signing of power forward Xavier Tillman. Acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade for Lamar Stevens and two future second-round picks, Tillman was inked to a two-year, $4.7 million contract at the veteran’s minimum in July 2024. While the deal was as affordable as it gets, Tillman’s lackluster performance during the 2024-25 season has left fans furious and questioning why he’s taking up a valuable roster spot.
In 33 appearances for the Celtics, Tillman posted career lows across the board. His field goal percentage plummeted to a dismal 24.5%, his 3-point shooting was an abysmal 15.6%, and he averaged a mere 1.0 points and 1.3 rebounds per game. For a team with championship aspirations, these numbers are simply unacceptable. Fans have taken to social media to vent their frustration, with many arguing that Tillman’s minimal contributions didn’t justify even the modest veteran’s minimum salary.
To make matters worse, Tillman’s contract is fully guaranteed for the 2025-26 season at $2.55 million. Waiving him would offer no financial relief, leaving Boston stuck with a player who, based on his recent performance, seems unlikely to play a significant role moving forward. With the team’s salary cap already stretched thin, every dollar counts—especially as Jayson Tatum’s massive five-year, $313.9 million extension begins in the 2025-26 season. Tatum’s absence from the lineup in the near future only heightens the urgency for Boston to maximize the value of every contract.
As the Celtics aim to remain playoff contenders, they can’t afford to carry dead weight. Tillman’s underwhelming season has fans fuming, and unless he can turn things around dramatically, his contract could be a lingering regret for a team desperate to make every penny count. With Stevens at the helm, Boston faces a critical offseason where tough choices will define the franchise’s future. For now, Tillman’s lack of impact serves as a glaring reminder that even low-cost signings can prove costly when they fail to deliver.