By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
It seems that Kristaps Porzingis is getting closer to becoming a Boston Celtics player. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Porzingis’ Washington Wizards, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Clippers are in “strong talks” regarding a trade that will make the Latvian big man a Boston resident.
As of now, the trade plan is to send Marcus Morris to the Wizards (along with draft picks) while Malcolm Brogdon is joining the Clippers. Charania, who had previously reported that Boston is targeting Porzingis, describes the deal as highly possible to happen. Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer reports that the deal also includes a Danilo Gallinari move from the Celtics to the Wizards.
The one thing that seems to be unresolved, so far, is the $36 million player option that Porzingis has in his contract with the Wizards.
Porzingis comes off the most productive season of his NBA career so far. He had a career-high 23.2 points while shooting 38.5 percent on 3-pointers and also posted 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 32.6 minutes in 65 games.
Boston is looking for some extra offensive firepower in order to become stronger in its pursuit of a ring and Porzingis apparently checks all the boxes on what the Celtics are in need of. If the deal is completed, the 27-year-old forward/center will be joining a championship-aspiring team after participating in the playoffs just twice (with the Dallas Mavericks in 2020 and 2021) in his six-year NBA career.
UPDATE: The Celtics, Wizards and Clippers are “closing in” on the deal, according to latest reports.