Boston Celtics Trade Jabari Bird

BOSTON, MA — The Celtics have reportedly traded Jabari Bird, the guard who essentially lost his spot on the team this year when he was arrested on domestic assault charges.

Bird, 24, was traded to Atlanta, which sends Boston back cash and a heavily protected second-round pick, according to Yahoo! Sports. The move opens up a roster spot for the Celtics, who can now pick up a player on the buyout market to bolster their postseason push.

Bird was arraigned in September on charges of assault and battery on a household or family member, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, and strangulation or suffocation. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $50,000 bail, with instructions not to leave the state.

He recently was back in court to face new charges of threats and intimidation related to the earlier assault charges.

Prosecutors said in September Bird strangled his girlfriend, a local college student, multiple times to the point of her losing consciousness in an incident that lasted some four hours. When she came to, he strangled her again. He also trapped in her a bathroom, prosecutors said. She was able to eventually escape after he passed out.

"The Celtics organization deplores domestic violence of any kind, and we are deeply disturbed by the allegations against Jabari Bird," the team said in a September statement.

The team made a significant commitment to the 24-year-old in July, signing him to a two-year deal worth $3 million to round out their roster.

Bird is scheduled to come back to court Feb. 13.

RELATED:

• Jabari Bird Arrested, Charged With Kidnapping, Assault (Sept. 8)
• Celtics Player Jabari Bird Hospitalized, Delaying Arraignment (Sept. 10)
• Celtics Jabari Bird Choked Girlfriend Multiple Times: Prosecutor(Sept. 18)

Jenna Fisher, Patch, contributed to this report

Photo by Jenna Fisher, Patch