After two very disappointing playoff defeats in the last two seasons, the Boston Celtics are apparently loading up for an attempt at their 18th NBA championship.
They’re reportedly working on a trade that would land them star center Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards, and it’s a move that could shift the balance of power in the Eastern Conference in their favor.
According to Marc Stein, assuming the trade becomes official, it could lead to Porzingis landing a big contract extension within the next several weeks.
The three-team deal to send Kristaps Porzingis to Boston is likewise expected to lead to a July contract extension for Porzingis beyond next season's $36 million player option, league sources say.
Today was the deadline to invoke the option.
More NBA: https://t.co/A6ycVmnrjq
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2023
Porzingis has quietly been one of the NBA’s better centers over the years when healthy, and this season he put up 23.2 points a game on 49.8 percent field-goal shooting, both of which were career highs.
However, “when healthy” is the caveat here.
The 7-foot-3 center has appeared in at least 70 games in a season just once, and he has had a number of serious injuries over the years.
The Celtics could strike gold with this trade if Porzingis avoids any significant injuries, but it is also a big risk.
The trade isn’t risky only because of his injury history, but also because of who they’re giving up.
They would be trading away guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward Danilo Gallinari, which would leave them hugely bereft of bench depth, especially on offense.
This season, Brogdon was a consistent threat off the bench for Boston, not to mention their only one.
Landing Porzingis would result in them sporting a very top-heavy roster, and in today’s NBA, it likely won’t be enough to win a world title.
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