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The Boston Celtics are said to be trading Kristaps Porziņģis to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a larger three-team transaction that will grant the Brooklyn Nets an additional pick in the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday.
According to various sources, Porziņģis is set to join the Hawks, while Boston will receive Georges Niang along with a second-round selection. Meanwhile, Brooklyn will acquire Terance Mann and the 22nd pick that Atlanta possesses in the upcoming draft.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the second-round pick heading to Boston is a 2031 selection from the Cleveland Cavaliers, which was previously under the Hawks’ control, while Atlanta will receive the Celtics’ least favorable second-round pick for 2026.
**Hawks receive:**
– Kristaps Porziņģis
**Nets receive:**
– Terance Mann
– No. 22 pick
**Celtics receive:**
– Georges Niang
– 2031 second-round pick from Cleveland
ESPN was the first outlet to break the news of the trade, which was later validated by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
This marks the second significant move by Boston within the week, following the franchise’s decision to trade Jrue Holiday to Portland. Though these moves push Boston over the tax line for the upcoming season, they will now operate below the second apron, affording the Celtics greater flexibility as they prepare for a season that will see them lose Jayson Tatum for a significant duration due to an Achilles injury.
Reducing their payroll under the second apron is critical, as exceeding this limit restricts teams in how they can trade for or sign players.
On Wednesday morning, Porziņģis took to social media platform X to express his sentiments about the trade, stating, “Boston will always hold a special place in my heart. A huge thank you to the organization, coaches, staff, my teammates, and the fans. It’s a classy organization, and I am forever grateful.”
Porziņģis, who played a role in helping Boston secure the 2024 NBA championship alongside Holiday, has an expiring contract worth $30.7 million for the upcoming season. He faced some health challenges in the latter part of last season and during the playoffs, yet he plans to represent Latvia in EuroBasket this summer, a promising indication of his condition.
“Thank you for all the support and inquiries about my health,” Porziņģis shared on social media this week. “I’ve been feeling fantastic throughout the offseason and am eager for a healthy and successful European championship tournament.”
During the past season, Porziņģis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 42 games, achieving a career-high 41.2% shooting from beyond the arc. He joins an Atlanta lineup that features All-Star guard Trae Young, Kia Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels, forward Jalen Johnson, and Zaccharie Risacher, the top overall pick from 2024.
With this trade, the Nets now technically maintain five picks for Wednesday’s first round, including their own selections at Nos. 8, 19, 26, and 27, effectively allowing the Hawks to pick for the Nets at No. 22 as well.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.
