This is a move that is primarily financially motivated from Boston’s perspective. The Celtics are a few million dollars over the luxury tax and Hernangomez is earning $7 million this season. Boston will be taking on the salary of a pair of injured Nugget players in Bol and Dozier, who collectively make about half that amount. That gets Boston closer to avoiding the luxury tax altogether for this season, which could allow the team to have additional financial flexibility as they pursue moves in the coming weeks.
Makes sense, and Bol Bol’s upside is far greater than Hernangomez as well