Boston Celtics acquire Kristaps Porzingis, 25th pick in 2023 and a 2024 first-round pick
What are the Celtics’ plans for Porziņģis? That was my initial thought when it came to seeing this trade news. Is this a short-term play, or will we see an extension offered that may lower his salary after this season but gives him long-term security? The fit for Porziņģis in the frontcourt has a lot of potential, but we often feel that way with Porziņģis. He’s extremely tall, has a great wingspan, he’s pretty nimble, and he’s exceptionally skilled for a 7-foot-3 man.
Look at his numbers after leaving Dallas. In 82 games with the Wizards, Porzingis averaged 22.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks with 49.3/38.2/85.5 shooting splits. That’s good for 62.2 percent true shooting. That’s incredibly efficient. He’s become a pretty solid rebounder, he can rim protect some, and he has a great outside shot.
Fitting that into what the Celtics do isn’t hard. It means Al Horford (37) can take a step back in the rotation if needed, or he can play alongside Porziņģis when Robert Williams III isn’t available. They could also bring Porziņģis off the bench as a super sixth man next to Brogdon.
They can run the offense through him in the second unit, or he can play third fiddle to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as an expert pick-and-pop option. He can camp in the corner and spread the floor. And defensively, he can be a nice rim-protecting presence as long as he’s able to take the physical toll of being in a pretty tough and active defensive system.
The Celtics have options, as long as Porziņģis is healthy, and that’s the part that could worry you. Since the ACL injury that cost him well over 100 games from 2017 to 2019, Porziņģis has missed 95 games in four seasons. That’s a lot of missed time. On a one-year rental, even at $36 million, it’s a risk you can take with the depth the Celtics have.
That they upgraded 10 spots in this draft and got a first-round pick in next year’s draft is pretty ridiculous.
Grade: A
What are the Celtics’ plans for Porziņģis? That was my initial thought when it came to seeing this trade news. Is this a short-term play, or will we see an extension offered that may lower his salary after this season but gives him long-term security? The fit for Porziņģis in the frontcourt has a lot of potential, but we often feel that way with Porziņģis. He’s extremely tall, has a great wingspan, he’s pretty nimble, and he’s exceptionally skilled for a 7-foot-3 man.
Look at his numbers after leaving Dallas. In 82 games with the Wizards, Porzingis averaged 22.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks with 49.3/38.2/85.5 shooting splits. That’s good for 62.2 percent true shooting. That’s incredibly efficient. He’s become a pretty solid rebounder, he can rim protect some, and he has a great outside shot.
Fitting that into what the Celtics do isn’t hard. It means Al Horford (37) can take a step back in the rotation if needed, or he can play alongside Porziņģis when Robert Williams III isn’t available. They could also bring Porziņģis off the bench as a super sixth man next to Brogdon.
They can run the offense through him in the second unit, or he can play third fiddle to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as an expert pick-and-pop option. He can camp in the corner and spread the floor. And defensively, he can be a nice rim-protecting presence as long as he’s able to take the physical toll of being in a pretty tough and active defensive system.
The Celtics have options, as long as Porziņģis is healthy, and that’s the part that could worry you. Since the ACL injury that cost him well over 100 games from 2017 to 2019, Porziņģis has missed 95 games in four seasons. That’s a lot of missed time. On a one-year rental, even at $36 million, it’s a risk you can take with the depth the Celtics have.
That they upgraded 10 spots in this draft and got a first-round pick in next year’s draft is pretty ridiculous.
Grade: A
