Kristaps Porzingis is being traded from the Boston Celtics to the Atlanta Hawks in what is soon to be confirmed as a three-team transaction. This deal also increases the Brooklyn Nets’ draft picks by one in Wednesday’s first round of the NBA draft, shared a source with insights into the agreement.
Porzingis will join the Hawks, while the Celtics will acquire Georges Niang and a second-round draft pick. Meanwhile, Brooklyn will receive Terance Mann and the No. 22 draft choice originally held by Atlanta in Wednesday’s draft. This source provided information anonymously as the trade is not expected to become official until the new league year on July 6.
ESPN had initially unveiled details of the trade, which was later verified by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This move marks the second significant transaction for Boston this week after trading Jrue Holiday to Portland. Despite these changes, the Celtics remain over the tax line for the upcoming season but have managed to escape the constraints of the second apron. This strategic escape provides Boston with more latitude as they face a future without Jayson Tatum for a substantial portion of the next season due to an Achilles injury.
Avoiding the second apron is crucial because surpassing it restricts the team’s ability to trade for or sign players. Porzingis, along with Holiday, contributed to Boston’s 2024 NBA championship victory. He is on a $30.7 million expiring deal for the next season. During the latter half of the recent season and the playoff run, he encountered some health obstacles. Nevertheless, Porzingis is optimistic about playing for Latvia at the EuroBasket tournament this summer.
“Thanks for all the support and questions about my health,” Porzingis shared in a social media post this week. “I’ve been feeling excellent all offseason and look forward to a healthy and strong European championship tournament.”
Over the course of 42 games this season, Porzingis posted averages of 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. The Nets now find themselves practically holding five opportunities in the first round of Wednesday’s draft. They are the owners of the Nos. 8, 19, 26, and 27 picks and will effectively gain Atlanta’s selection at No. 22 as well.