Jabari Bird is facing domestic-violence charges (complicated by his own mental-health issues) and has been away from the Celtics all season.
Meanwhile, he was counting toward Boston’s team salary and occupying a roster spot.
The Celtics changed that today.
Marc J. Spears of ESPN:
Celtics trade guard Jabari Bird to Hawks for cash, source said. Atlanta expected to waive Bird.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) February 7, 2019
Boston surely paid the Hawks Bird’s $480,289 remaining salary plus extra cash for their trouble. If they waived Bird themselves, the Celtics would have had his full-season salary ($1,349,383) count toward the luxury tax. Now, Bird won’t count at all toward the Celtics’ luxury tax.
With a roster spot now open, expect Boston to be active on the buyout market. The Celtics still have their mid-level exception available. This set of moves might not even be a cost-cutter.
But it’ll at least be cheaper trading Bird than waiving him would have been.
