The Boston Celtics' NBA trade season is heating up, and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has the flexibility to make strategic moves before the deadline. After acquiring Nikola Vucevic in a trade, the Celtics have trimmed their salary by $6 million, unlocking new possibilities. Chris Forsberg highlights a key benefit: if a player is waived with a salary exceeding the mid-level exception ($14.5 million), the Celtics can now pursue such players. This opens doors for minimum deals or trade exceptions, allowing them to target past All-Stars or other valuable players. Forsberg emphasizes the potential for additional trades, citing Chris Boucher as a likely candidate. The Celtics' financial flexibility and trade exceptions position them well to make strategic moves, whether it's acquiring a steady veteran guard or exploring the buyout market for aging veterans with playoff experience.
