The Boston Celtics’ teardown within the wake of Jayson Tatum’s torn Achilles is absolutely underway. On Monday night time, the Celtics traded Jrue Vacation to the Portland Path Blazers. On Tuesday, the Celtics traded away one other key piece from their 2024 championship workforce by sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal.
The Hawks are buying Porzingis and a second-round decide. The Celtics are getting Georges Niang and a second-rounder. The Brooklyn Nets are getting Terance Mann and the No. 22 decide within the draft that Atlanta was in charge of from the Lakers. The commerce was first reported by Shams Charania.
The Hawks added a middle they desperately wanted, the Celtics saved cash, and the Nets rented out their cap area to choose up one other first-round decide. It’s onerous to consider Brooklyn now has 5 first-round picks within the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night time. Let’s grade this deal from each aspect.
Hawks grade for Kristaps Porzingis commerce
The Hawks’ greatest want this offseason was discovering a beginning heart with Clint Capela getting into free company. Capela had been Atlanta’s high massive man for the final 5 years even because the workforce used a top-10 decide to pick Onyeka Okongwu. With Capela now previous his prime on the mistaken aspect of 30, Atlanta wanted a brand new heart, they usually discovered one with Porzingis.
Porzingis is a captivating guess. If he’s wholesome, he offers Atlanta an above-average rim protector who can be one of many higher three-pointing facilities within the NBA. In fact, if he’s wholesome carries main weight with Porzingis after all of the damage hassle he’s endured all through his profession, and particularly this previous season.
Porzingis had a thriller virus that slowed him down within the playoffs because the Celtics have been eradicated by the Knicks within the second spherical. He performed solely 42 video games this season after needing ankle surgical procedure over the offseason following the Celtics’ title run. Boston received the 2024 championship with Porzingis enjoying solely a minor function within the playoffs due to the ankle damage.
Porzingis can nonetheless be actually good when he’s accessible. He made 41 p.c of his three-pointers this 12 months on six makes an attempt per recreation, a improbable quantity for any participant, not to mention an enormous man. He’s a 36.6 p.c three-point shooter for his profession. His capturing will give Atlanta a dimension they’ve by no means had within the Trae Younger period with out sacrificing protection.
Porzingis continues to be an excellent shot-blocker too who can anchor the Hawks’ protection. Atlanta has tried to construct a workforce of lengthy and proficient defenders round Younger, and that is the ultimate piece. The Hawks have already got Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher defending Younger on the perimeter. Porzingis is without doubt one of the longest gamers within the league with a 7’6 wingspan, and he’s been one of many league’s higher rim protectors when he’s accessible.
Atlanta clearly sees a possibility within the East with Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and Damian Lillard all recovering from a torn Achilles. Porzingis will probably be 30 years outdated for subsequent season, and he’s on an expiring $30.7 million contract. The Hawks have already got the No. 13 decide on this draft, and now can take the very best participant accessible with their greatest want crammed. Porzingis isn’t a dependable participant due to the well being issues, however he’s nonetheless fairly good when he’s accessible, and there isn’t a lot threat right here on an expiring contract. That is good work by Atlanta’s new entrance workplace.
Hawks grade: A-
Celtics grade for Kristaps Porzingis commerce
This commerce is strictly about saving cash for Boston. Niang makes $8.2 million subsequent season on an expiring deal. Buying him instead of Porzingis will save the Celtics a lot cash in luxurious tax funds, and assist them get to a clear slate when Tatum returns from damage a 12 months from now.
Porzingis didn’t have a lot commerce worth after he was slowed down by the sickness within the playoffs. Ideally the Celtics would have gotten some actual property again for him and Vacation, however each declined to the purpose the place the workforce was completely satisfied to only dump them with out attaching any picks themselves to take action.
The Celtics are prepared for a reset. Will a Jaylen Brown or Derrick White commerce come subsequent? If that’s the case, Boston may very well be trying like a lottery workforce within the East subsequent 12 months forward of a loaded top-3 within the 2026 NBA Draft. If Brown and White each stay, it’s not completely out of the query that Boston could make the playoffs in a weak East. I’ll guess Boston is a lottery workforce, and that’s simply the best way they need it.
Celtics grade: B+
Nets grade for 3-team commerce with Celtics, Hawks
Brooklyn received one other first spherical decide with No. 22 coming their means on this deal. The Nets took on Mann’s contract to get it, which pays him $47 million over the following three years. As somebody who’s at all times in favor of dangerous groups renting out their draft area for first-round picks, this looks like a pointy transfer by Brooklyn’s entrance workplace.
The Nets now decide at No. 8, No. 19, No. 22, No. 26, and No. 27. Learn our newest mock draft for extra on the choices accessible with these picks. Will the Nets actually have 5 first-round picks on the roster subsequent season? It’s unlikely. There was loads of smoke that the Nets wish to commerce up within the draft, probably concentrating on Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears or Rutgers ahead Ace Bailey. They now have the property to do it. It’s additionally attainable Brooklyn may stick at No. 8 and take the very best participant accessible, then public sale off a few of their later first spherical picks for future first-round picks from different groups.
GM Sean Marks nailed the Mikal Bridges commerce, and it has the Nets arrange nicely for the longer term. I don’t love the depth of this draft class after the lottery, however Brooklyn is assured to get an excellent prospect at No. 8, and now they’ve the ammo to maneuver up in the event that they actually wish to.
The opposite facet of this commerce is that now there actually aren’t any groups with cap area as Mann takes up a piece of Brooklyn’s. In case your workforce has a restricted free agent this season, there received’t be a lot of a marketplace for their providers. Total, I feel it is a good use of cap area by the Nets, and units up loads of fascinating paths come draft day.
Nets grade: A
