Grading the Blockbuster Kristaps Porzingis Trade
What the 11th hour move means for the Celtics, Wizards, and Grizzlies
As if this NBA offseason couldn’t get any more crazier, the Boston Celtics said, “Hold my beer.”
The C’s acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the rebuilding Washington Wizards days after the latter moved on from Bradley Beal, but it wasn’t smooth sailing.
The original deal, announced Wednesday afternoon, had Porzingis booking a flight to Logan Airport while the Wizards would’ve received Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey, and draft picks (including pick #30 Thursday night) from the LA Clippers. The Clippers, in turn, would have received Malcolm Brogdon, originally finding the answer to their issues of point guard depth.
Fast forward eight hours later, and the deal was nixed. The Celtics were no longer willing to wait until Thursday night for the 30th pick to convey, and the Clippers were unwilling to take on Malcolm Brogdon given his lengthy injury history — which included a partially-torn tendon in his elbow during this year’s Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, the Wizards and Celtics pivoted, deciding to still send Porzingis to Boston — with a twist:
And if that wasn’t shocking enough:
Bingo.
After an insane turn of events, it’s once again time to “grade the trade” and see how all sides fared after this move was salvaged.
Boston Celtics: Was This Really a “Smart” Idea?
Kristaps Porzingis had a career year in the nation’s capital, averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting nearly 50% from the field, 38% from deep, and 85% from the free-throw line. In a time when Boston’s bigs consisted of an aging Al Horford and a tough but undersized Robert Williams III, KP might be the answer to Boston’s big man problem, offering an array of floor spacing and shot blocking that will add great value to the C’s arsenal.
Of course, staying healthy will be a priority for Porzingis and his success to the team, but even so, this is a welcome addition for Boston — not to mention adding draft capital from Memphis in the process.
As great as this move might seem — throwing in a 7'3" paint and perimeter threat who fortifies Boston’s presence in both areas — you have to wonder what made Brad Stevens trade away an essential piece of the Celtics’ core.
Marcus Smart averaged a modest 11 points and six assists per game in 61 regular season games on 41–33–74 splits. As expected, he rose to the occasion come playoff time, averaging nearly 15 points per game on 45–36–80 splits for a True Shooting percentage of 59.2. He was their best defender on the roster, averaging 1.5 steals per game (1.3 in the playoffs) and was no doubt a key part of a talented Boston team —truly its heart and soul. And now, he’s off to bring that same grit and tenacity to the Memphis Grizzlies, who need him now more than ever given the suspension of Ja Morant (more on that later).
Additionally, the trade also leaves more questions than answers at point guard for Boston. Given Malcolm Brogdon’s aforementioned injuries (and assuming he continues to be Boston’s sixth man) and the fact that Payton Pritchard has only started nine games in his career, finding Smart’s replacement isn’t as easy as it looks. It will be very interesting to see how the C’s patch up the starting point guard role, whether they promote one of the two or sign a starting-caliber facilitator in free agency.
Grade: B+
Memphis Grizzlies: Progress, but No Parade inside the City
With Ja Morant suspended for 25 games and Tyus Jones out the door, gaining Smart in this deal was a genius move by GM Zach Kleiman and the Memphis brass.
As mentioned earlier, Smart is a tenacious two-way player who brings his shooting, playmaking, and defense to the Grizzlies. However, his experience is going to be the biggest addition to this young squad. Smart just wrapped up his ninth straight playoff appearance and brings a wealth of knowledge to a Memphis team that has made the conference semifinals twice in the last decade. Also, Smart, a three-time member of the All-Defensive First Team and the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, will be joining Jaren Jackson Jr., who took home the DPOY award this past season. Add those two into the equation of a young and gritty Grizzlies squad — one that finished with the third-best defense in both the regular season and playoffs — and it has the potential to thrive next year — especially once Morant returns.
Grade: A
Washington Wizards: A Crisis Averted
The Wizards keep wheeling and dealing over in D.C. With this trade juxtaposing the news that Kyle Kuzma declined his Player Option, Washington continues to stack building blocks towards their future, not only acquiring Tyus Jones but also the 35th pick and veterans Danilo Galinari and Mike Muscala from Boston — a solid return for a standout big man.
Jones, the 27-year-old point guard had a career year for Memphis, averaging 10.3 points and 5.2 assists per game on 44–37–80 splits. Though he leaves a young contender, he enters D.C. with the keys to the offense, bringing his talents to another young squad that’s on the come-up. Given his playoff experience and the potential to stick around after the final year of his contract, Jones could be a valuable piece for the Wizards going forward.
In terms of draft capital, the Wizards now own the 8th, 35th, 42nd, and 59th picks heading into Thursday night, with the opportunity to either select promising young players or package some of those picks in yet another trade. This move gives the Wizards increased flexibility in their offseason, which, in addition to their massive cap space, ultimately provides a solid foundation for a rebuilding team on the rise once again.
Grade: B
With this blockbuster, the two Eastern Conference squads received quite the shakeup, as the Celtics still long for their 18th title and the Wizards keep pressing the reset button. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, hold more potential in a loaded Western Conference, as they keep their eyes on the prize to their own journey towards success.
