The Celtics should be exploring trades involving Kristaps Porzingis to shed salary and get under the luxury tax, with five teams—including the Nets, Jazz, Lakers, Pistons, and Warriors—standing out as potential landing spots.
With the Boston Celtics aiming to shed salary this offseason to get under the luxury tax apron, Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis has become a key trade candidate.
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Porzingis carries a hefty $30.7 million salary for the 2025-26 season, and moving him could help Boston clear significant cap space.
Conor Roche of Boston.com provided five teams that could realistically make a deal happen:
1. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have massive cap space—up to $91 million this offseason—making them an ideal candidate to absorb Porzingis' salary.
Boston would likely need to include draft picks as compensation, but Brooklyn could take on the $30.7 million without sending much back.
2. Utah Jazz
Porzingis had interest from Utah before joining Boston, and with former Celtics assistant GM Austin Ainge now running Utah's basketball operations, the Jazz connection is strong.
Utah is near the salary cap, so a swap involving players like Jordan Clarkson or John Collins could work. Boston might even land a guard like Collin Sexton in a deal.
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3. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers desperately need a big man after trading Anthony Davis and adding Luka Doncic.
Salary cap constraints limit how much Boston could clear in a trade here, but the Celtics could get solid rotation players like Rui Hachimura and some future draft picks in exchange.
4. Detroit Pistons
Detroit could pair Porzingis with Jalen Duren to bolster their frontcourt and provide scoring help for Cade Cunningham.
The Pistons have about $19 million in cap space, so absorbing Porzingis' contract is plausible.
They'd likely trade Isaiah Stewart and Simone Fontecchio, but Boston might want draft picks to sweeten the deal.
5. Golden State Warriors
With Kevon Looney's free agency and Draymond Green often playing center, the Warriors need frontcourt help.
They'd have to include guards like Moses Moody and Buddy Hield in a package, but Boston would gain cap space and solid wing players in return.
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