In a minor trade which has luxury tax implications for both teams, the Boston Celtics traded project center 
Fab Melo to the Memphis Grizzlies for Donte Greene.
The swap of Syracuse alums was announced Wednesday by the Grizzlies.
Dumping Melo’s $1.3 million salary for the 2013-14 season gets the Celtics right to the tax line, according to our salary analysis. They take back Greene, who is scheduled to make $1.03 million in a non-guaranteed deal.
The Celtics could cut Greene, lower their tax hit to six figures or so and create a roster spot. With Greene, they have 15 players under contract.
By taking back Melo, the Grizzlies increase their team salary by about $280,000. They are also right around the tax threshold of $71.478 million and have to cut at least two players because their roster is currently at 17.
Melo’s guaranteed money means he is unlikely to be cut. A prime candidate is Willie Reed, who is due a non-guaranteed $920,000. Other candidates include Nick Calathes ($950,000, unlikely) and Josh Akognon ($790,000, more likely), both of whom have guarantees for 2013-14.
The Grizzlies have to make a decision on Melo’s third-year option of $1.37 million by the start of the season. They could reduce their payrolls for 2014-15 and 2015-16 by declining the option, which would make Melo an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Last season, the 7-foot Melo played just six games for the Celtics and 33 for the Maine Red Claws of the D-League, averaging 9.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and a league-leading 3.1 blocks in 26.2 minutes. He is probably best known for his triple-double on Dec. 22 vs. Erie with 15 points, 16 rebounds and league-record 14 blocks. Either that, or suffering a concussion when he hit his head on a doorframe.
The 6-11 Greene was originally drafted by Memphis in the first round in 2008 but was immediately traded in a four-way deal that landed Darrell Arthur. He eventually ended up in Sacramento, averaging 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 253 games over three-plus seasons. The Grizzlies signed him last April, but he never played a game for them.