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Celtics acquire Kristaps Porzingis from Wizards in 3-way trade that sends Marcus Smart to Grizzlies
Celtics’ three-team trade with Wizards, Clippers for Kristaps Porzingis falls apart
Boston Celtics are back in the running for Kristaps Porzingis.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Celtics and Washington Wizards worked out a deal to send the 7-foot-3 power forward/center to Boston ahead of Wednesday night’s deadline.
Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones will be sent to the Wizards in exchange for point guard Marcus Smart. In addition to the 25th pick (first round) from Thursday’s NBA Draft, the Grizzlies are sending Boston an additional first-round pick (via Golden State) in 2024.
In exchange for Porzingis’ player option, the Celtics will trade the 35th pick in Thursday’s draft, Mike Muscala, and Danilo Gallinari to the Wizards.
After Wojnarowski reported the Clippers had dissolved a proposed three-way trade, the Grizzlies acquired Smart knowing they’ll be without suspended All-Star Ja Morant for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season.
A Celtics team that finished second in the Eastern Conference and lost in the Eastern Conference finals to the Miami Heat in the regular season will welcome Porzingis. Boston hopes to win an NBA championship after consecutive trips to the conference finals, including an NBA Finals appearance in 2022.
In 65 games last season, Porzingis averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 blocks and shot 49.8% from the field and 38.5% from the three-point line. With his career high scoring average of 22.7 points per game, he exceeded his only All-Star season with the New York Knicks in 2017-18.
On offense, Porzingis is versatile and a defensive force capable of altering shots from the perimeter and in the post. In addition to veteran starter Al Horford and All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum, he joins a Celtics front line that includes center Robert Williams III and 2021-22 All-Defensive Team center Robert Williams III.
Wojnarowski and Shams Charania reported earlier Wednesday that a three-way trade between the Celtics, Wizards and Clippers was in the works, but it ultimately didn’t happen. The Wizards would have received Marcus Morris and the No. 30 pick in Thursday’s draft from Los Angeles, while Boston would have sent Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers.
The Clippers’ injury concerns surrounding Brogdon caused the trade to collapse, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
According to Wojnarowski, the Clippers would have sent wing Amir Coffey to Washington, while the Celtics would have sent Gallinari to Washington.
A three-team trade involving the Celtics, Wizards, and Clippers for Kristaps Porzingis falls apart
In order to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards, the Celtics and Wizards found a third team to execute the deal. Boston sent Marcus Smart to Memphis to complete the deal.
On Wednesday evening, however, the Celtics deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis went awry.
Adrian Wojnarowski reported after 10 p.m. Wednesday night that the three-team deal had fallen apart and the Celtics, Wizards, and Clippers were “moving on.”
The 27-year-old Porzingis was expected to sign with the Celtics, with Malcolm Brogdon heading to the Clippers and Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey, and the 30th pick heading to Washington.
Wojnarowski even reported Wednesday afternoon that Porzingis would opt in to his player option for the upcoming season in order to complete the deal, and that Danilo Gallinari would be moving from Boston to Washington. It was reported Porzingis was considering extending his contract with Boston.
In a tweet just after 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Shams Charania said the teams were “closing in.”
Marc Stein reported that injury concerns with Brogdon – who suffered a torn tendon in his arm during the playoffs – prevented the deal from going through.
Porzingis, however, is not gone. Wojnarowski continued by saying that “the Wizards are still looking at ways to get Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics in an opt-in and trade scenario, but it won’t be a three-way deal with the Clippers.” Wojnarowski reported that Porzingis still has the option of opting out and becoming a free agent, but a midnight deadline looms over that decision.