Celtics
“Porzingis, I think is available, but they’d like to get Porzingis back long-term at a lower price point on his next deal.”
Kristaps Porzingis’s name has been floated as a potential trade option for the Celtics.
With the team’s payroll being deep into the luxury tax, Boston could be looking to cut costs, especially as Jayson Tatum‘s availability for next season is not yet known.
Of the Celtics’ five starters, all of whom are scheduled to make at least $28 million next season, Porzingis and Jrue Holiday seem to have been coming up the most in trade rumors.
Porzingis missed 40 of the Celtics’ 82 regular-season games this past season, and struggled with illness during the playoffs. He scored 7.7 points per game this postseason and shot 31.6 percent from the field, both career lows.
Despite those numbers, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix said the Celtics would like to hang on to Porzingis if the price is right next year.
“I’ve also heard, ‘We’re going to nibble around the fringes,’” Mannix said during a recent episode of the KOC show. “If you want Jrue Holiday, you can have him. Porzingis, I think is available, but they’d like to get Porzingis back long-term at a lower price point on his next deal.”
Porzingis’s deal is set to expire at the end of next season. He will make $30.7 million. The Celtics are around $20 million above the second apron threshold.
The 7-foot-2 inch Latvian center is a unique inside-outside scoring threat.
He can score efficiently at all three levels. He shot 41.2 percent from 3-point land last season, and he has deep range often forcing opposing big men to come out onto the perimeter and guard him. He has touch on both his jumpshot and passing in the midrange game. He can finish with force around the rim, and he uses his length to his advantage as a rim protector on defense.
But, availability is a huge issue for Porzingis. The Celtics played pretty much the entire playoffs, except for a few games in the first round and the Finals, without him last season. He was available during the Celtics’ second-round loss to the Knicks, but struggled to breathe at times and overall did not look like his usual self.
He has missed at least 25 regular-season games in seven of his nine seasons in the league.
Paying $30 million for a player who struggles to stay on the floor as much as Porzingis does is both a pricey and dicey proposition. But, when he is healthy, he provides a presence that no one else on the Celtics’ roster (and very few bigs in the league) can replicate.
It’s not clear if the Celtics would be able negotiate a lower price for Porzingis once his deal expires. Convincing a team to take on his salary in a trade could cost the Celtics draft capital.
He’s still on the roster, but his price tag and availability concerns will likely factor into whatever decision the Celtics make about his future.
Sign up for Celtics updates🏀
Get breaking news and analysis delivered to your inbox during basketball season.
