In a surprising turn of events, the Boston Celtics have agreed to a three-team trade involving the Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks, sending center Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta. The deal, confirmed by multiple league sources, will see the Celtics acquire veteran forward Georges Niang from the Hawks. This move comes just a day after the Celtics traded point guard Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The trade marks a significant shift in the Celtics’ strategy following an unusually calm summer after their 2024 championship win. Head of basketball operations Brad Stevens had initially expressed confidence in the team’s ability to repeat their success. However, financial pressures have necessitated a reevaluation. By trading Porzingis, the Celtics aim to reduce their projected salary and luxury tax bill for the next season by approximately $220 million, according to CapSheets.com.
Financial Strategy and Roster Implications
The Celtics have been grappling with a potential $500 million combined salary and luxury tax bill, a figure that would have shattered NBA records. The trade of Porzingis, who carries a $30.8 million salary, allows Boston to slide under the second salary apron. This is crucial for the team as it eases significant roster-building restrictions, such as having a future first-round draft pick frozen and losing access to the mid-level exception.
With Jayson Tatum likely to miss the upcoming season due to an Achilles injury, the Celtics will start without at least three starters from their championship-winning lineup. The NBA’s roster-building rules are designed to promote parity across the league, and Boston’s recent moves are a testament to the challenges of maintaining a championship-caliber team under these constraints.
Georges Niang’s Role and Impact
Georges Niang, a Methuen native, joins the Celtics after averaging a career-high 12.1 points per game with the Hawks. Known for his 39 percent three-point shooting, Niang’s addition is primarily seen as a financial maneuver, as he is on an expiring $8.2 million contract. Despite his offensive capabilities, the trade’s primary aim was to shed salary rather than bolster the roster.
“The Celtics completed this deal to shed salary. Niang, 32, will make just $8.2 million next season on an expiring deal.”
Trade Mechanics and Future Prospects
This trade was facilitated by the Nets, who absorbed the $22 million contract of Hawks guard Terance Mann. The Nets were one of the few teams with notable salary cap space this summer, making them a key component in executing this complex deal.
Following the Celtics’ elimination from the playoffs by the Knicks, Brad Stevens remained non-committal about the team’s summer strategy. However, the financial challenges facing the team were well-known. Stevens emphasized the importance of weighing the collective bargaining agreement’s penalties and making informed decisions about the team’s future direction.
“The [collective bargaining agreement] has been well-known for years. So there are penalties associated with being at certain levels, and we know that. You just weigh that. You weigh where we are. You weigh everything else then you make those decisions.”
Porzingis’s Tenure and Departure
Kristaps Porzingis, acquired by the Celtics in 2023, quickly became a fan favorite at TD Garden. Despite his popularity and strong performance, including a pivotal role in the 2024 NBA Finals, his tenure in Boston was marred by injuries. Porzingis’s departure is bittersweet, as his contributions both on and off the court were significant.
Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game during the championship season. However, injuries limited his availability, including a calf strain during the 2024 playoffs and a knee injury in the Finals. Despite these setbacks, his impact was undeniable, and his departure marks the end of a memorable chapter for the Celtics.
Looking Ahead: Boston’s Strategic Moves
The Celtics are expected to create a substantial traded player exception with the Porzingis deal, potentially allowing them to acquire a player via trade without matching salaries. However, this opportunity hinges on the team’s ability to remain under the second salary apron after using the exception.
Currently, the Celtics are approximately $17 million above the $188 million luxury tax line, which presents an opportunity to avoid severe repeater tax penalties. As free agency approaches, the Celtics are poised to engage in discussions with their unrestricted free agents, including Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
Horford, 39, has yet to announce his plans for the upcoming season, while Kornet’s impressive performance has attracted interest from teams seeking frontcourt upgrades. The Celtics hold Kornet’s “Bird Rights,” allowing them to re-sign him without restriction.
As the NBA draft approaches, the Celtics hold the 28th and 32nd picks. With over 50 prospects visiting the Auerbach Center for workouts, the team is actively evaluating potential additions to bolster their roster amid this period of transition.
In conclusion, the Celtics’ recent trades reflect a strategic pivot aimed at financial flexibility and long-term success. While the departure of key players like Porzingis and Holiday marks the end of an era, it also opens new opportunities for Boston to reconfigure their roster and maintain competitiveness in the evolving NBA landscape.
