Kristaps Porzingis is set to join the Boston Celtics.
The Washington Wizards complete a trade to send Porzingis to the Celtics in a three-way deal that includes the Los Angeles Clippers, Athletic’s Shams Charania reports. The Wizards would receive Marcus Morris and the No. 30 pick in Thursday’s draft from Los Angeles, while Boston would send Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers.
The Clippers would also send winger Amir Coffey to Washingtonand the Celtics would be send Danilo Gallinari to wizards in the deal, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The trade would force Porzingis to opt for his $36 million player option for the upcoming season.
Porzingis would join a Celtics team that finished second in the Eastern Conference during the regular season and lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. After back-to-back trips to the Conference Finals that included an NBA Finals appearance in 2022, Boston is looking to take the leap to an NBA championship.
Porzingis, 27, averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks last season while shooting 49.8% from the field and 38.5% from 3 points in 65 games. His scoring average was his highest since making his only career All-Star appearance with the New York Knicks in 2018.
A centre-forward and 7-3 power forward, Porzingis offers versatility in attack and a defensive presence that can change shots around the perimeter and into the post. He would join a Celtics front line that includes veteran starter Al Horford and 2021-22 All-Defensive Squad center Robert Williams at center alongside All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum.
Boston’s backcourt would take a hit with the departure of reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, who averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season while shooting 48.4% from the ground and 44.4% from 3 points. Brogdon would provide an upgrade to a Clippers backcourt that includes starters Russell Westbrook and Paul George as Los Angeles has ambitions of its own to compete for a championship.
For the Wizards, the proposed deal further signals a rebuild under new management in Washington initiated by last week’s trade of Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns.