After getting eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Boston Celtics have some work to do this offseason.
One player who could end up being on the move is former All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis, but trading him may not be as easy as initially expected for the C’s.
With Boston unable to repeat as champions, the expectation is that Brad Stevens and the front office will work on getting the team under the second apron of the league’s new salary cap. Moving Porzingis and his $30.7 million expiring contract would help accomplish that goal.
On the surface, it shouldn’t be too hard to trade Porzingis. He’s fresh off averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 48.3% for the Celtics last season, and his ability to stretch the floor at the center position makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
The issue is that Porzingis is coming off a postseason run where he was nearly unplayable due to a mysterious illness (he’s also dealt with injury concerns for the majority of his career), and his $30.7 million salary isn’t exactly cheap.
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So, while Boston is open to trading Porzingis this offseason, they may have to attach some draft capital in any potential trade involving him in order to get another team to take him off their hands.
“The prevailing thought among league executives is the Celtics will need to include draft capital in a trade offloading Kristaps Porzingis’ $30.7 million expiring contract,” Evan Sidery of Forbes reported in a post on X. “Boston is very open to moving Porzingis as their top goal will be to dodge the second apron this offseason.”
In an ideal world, the Celtics wouldn’t have to trade Porzingis this offseason, but with Jayson Tatum looking likely to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 campaign, the team appears likely to reset their salary cap during his lengthy absence.
However, it could be good for Boston to get out ahead of Porzingis’ potential departure since he’s entering the final year of his contract. Trading him may end up being a tall task, but Stevens has the assets needed to get a deal done, even if it involves unloading some draft capital in order to facilitate a trade.
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