This summer, the Celtics bid farewell to a number of rotation players as the salary cap’s financial reality caught up with them.As part of a three-team trade, Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Hawks.
Porzingis helped Boston win the 2024 NBA title during his two seasons there. The big man shared some of his feelings after the trade in an interview with Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Porzingis told Williams, “Last year, our season (with the Celtics) didn’t end the way we wanted to.” But, you know, this is the way it is. Naturally, we also anticipated that my entire team would undergo changes. Additionally, it’s usually great for players to have a somewhat longer summer than usual because the NBA season is difficult.
Additionally, I jumped in the middle of the season, which is obviously difficult. Having this time off to rest and prepare for a busy summer and then entering the next year is, all things considered, the ideal situation. And I am really, really looking forward to what lies ahead.
Porzingis joins a promising Atlanta squad that wants to get more competitive. The Hawks struck a deal to acquire the gifted Porzingis, and he will have one of the NBA’s top playmakers in Trae Young. The big guy, who showed off his skills when on the Celtics, should be a perfect offensive fit.
In the transaction that also featured the Nets, the Celtics obtained Georges Niang and a second-round selection. The primary driving force for the deal was money: Niang will earn $8.2 million this season, while Porzingis has a contract that expires at $30.7 million. Despite their disappointment at losing one of their starters in the trade, the Cs were able to drastically reduce their salary.
Porzingis’ availability problems have been his biggest problem in Boston and throughout his career. In addition to previous injuries he sustained during his two years in Boston, he contended with his illness during the second-round series against the Knicks, which severely hampered him. However, Porzingis still intends to play for his home country of Latvia in the Eurobasket competition, which begins next month, so he will be hoping that all of those issues are behind him. Other than that, he can only focus on the Hawks’ future.
Porzingis stated, “I think I’ll fit right in here and add more like diversity, maybe even more offense.” Furthermore, I believe that this already potent assault will have additional layers. However, I do believe we have the attacking capacity to be a formidable force.
