Kristaps Porzingis shares his thoughts after getting traded by Celtics

After two noteworthy seasons with the Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis is penning a brand new chapter with the Hawks.

With Boston dealing with a severe cap crunch amid mounting luxury-tax penalties, Brad Stevens and the Celtics have been pressured to maneuver on from a number of key items on their roster, headlined by the trades of each Porzingis and Jrue Vacation.

Porzingis — who was getting into the ultimate yr of his contract with Boston in 2025-26 — was traded to Atlanta in a three-team deal last month that additionally included the Nets, with the Celtics liberating up some payroll within the course of. 

After serving to Boston win a championship in 2024, Porzingis shared his ideas on his two-year tenure with the Celtics in an interview with Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

“Our season (with the Celtics) didn’t finish final yr the best way we wished to,” Porzingis advised Williams. “However that is the way it goes, you already know. And clearly, we anticipated that there have been going to be modifications in my complete group. And having a little bit bit longer summer season than common is, it’s superior all the time as a participant, as a result of it’s simply, the NBA season is hard.

“And in addition (I) jumped in the course of the season, and it’s clearly powerful, and simply having this day off and having the ability to recharge a bit and prepare for a giant summer season, after which going into subsequent yr, it’s, actually, it’s the right situation, the right situation. And I’m tremendous, tremendous enthusiastic about what’s coming.”

When he was on the courtroom, Porzingis helped flip an already sturdy Celtics roster right into a juggernaut — together with his mix of submit work, rim safety, and 3-point taking pictures making Boston a matchup nightmare.

However, Porzingis’ availability was an ongoing concern throughout his quick time with Boston. 

Regardless of successful a title in 2024, Porzingis performed in simply seven of Boston’s 19 playoff video games that spring as a result of a calf concern and an ankle ailment that ultimately required offseason surgical procedure.

In 2024-25, he was restricted to 42 video games whereas recovering from that ankle process, and was later hindered down by a lingering sickness. 

He averaged 19.5 factors per sport whereas pulling down 41.2 % of his three-pointers to go together with 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest. However, the signs of that sickness returned within the postseason, hurting his total play.

In 11 playoff video games this spring, Porzingis averaged 7.7 factors and 4.6 rebounds and shot 15.4 % from 3-point vary whereas logging a mean of 21 minutes per contest.

Even with these limitations, Porzingis would have been a helpful piece for Boston in 2025-26, particularly with Jayson Tatum on the mend with an Achilles harm.

However, Stevens and his workers needed to make powerful calls to decrease Boston’s luxury-tax infractions. 

“KP — he fought a few of the stuff, health-wise, within the final two years, however when he performed, he was awfully good, and we predict he’ll be awfully good for Atlanta this yr,” Stevens said of Porzingis on Tuesday. “And so once more, these usually are not straightforward trades to make. These usually are not straightforward telephone calls. Clearly, these guys have been across the league a very long time. 

“They knew the CBA, they knew that there was a excessive probability that they could possibly be a part of a transfer, and so they have been communicated that earlier than. But it surely’s nonetheless laborious when you’re [traded]. We are going to miss them, and we’re grateful for them.”

Because the Celtics attempt to reset their group whereas ready for Tatum’s return, Porzingis needs to be in line for featured reps with Atlanta, which might assist him land a hefty new contract subsequent offseason. 

“I feel I’ll match proper in right here and add extra variety, possibly much more offense,” Porzingis mentioned. “And, yeah, I feel there’s going to be extra layers to this offense that’s already fairly highly effective. However yeah, I feel we will actually be a pressure offensively.”

 

Conor Ryan is a workers author overlaying the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Pink Sox for Boston.com, a job he has held since 2023.