Report: Pistons to trade Will Bynum to Celtics for Joel Anthony

The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons are close to finalizing a trade that will see point guard Will Bynum moved to Boston in exchange for center Joel Anthony, ESPN's Chris Forsberg reports.  

Anthony and Bynum are both free agents at season's end and, as Forsberg points out, the Celtics may be making this move with an eye on roster and cap flexibility. Swapping Anthony, who is set to make $3.8 million this season, for Bynum, who will earn $2.9 million, could help them duck the luxury tax, a line they currently exceed by about $2 million. 

The Celtics also have 16 guaranteed contracts on their books and need to trim that down to 15 before the start of the regular season, meaning Bynum may not be long for Beantown. The 6-foot point guard has spent the last six seasons in Detroit. In 56 games last year, he averaged 8.7 points and 3.9 assists in 18.8 minutes off the bench. 

Anthony, a defensive specialist with no offensive ability to speak of, scored just 28 total points last season between Miami and Boston, but carries an impressive career average of 2.6 blocks per 36 minutes.