Blockbuster Deal Sends Porziņģis to Atlanta
Kristaps Porziņģis trade sends Celtics star to Hawks in three-team deal with Nets, per ESPN and Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The deal will not be finalized until the new league year begins on July 6.
Complete Trade Analysis Hawks Get:
- Kristaps Porziņģis
- A second-round selection
Received by the Nets:
- Terance Mann
- 22nd overall selection (from Atlanta)
Georges Niang is received by the Celtics.
- A second-round selection
Celtics Clear Cap to Escape Second Apron
The trade marks the second major move this week by Boston, following the Jrue Holiday-to-Portland deal. These transactions help the Celtics shift under the NBA second apron, a vital goal in managing the Celtics salary cap heading into a season where Jayson Tatum is expected to miss significant time with an Achilles injury.
Exceeding the second apron restricts teams from using midlevel exceptions and limits trade flexibility — a position the Celtics clearly want to avoid.
Role and Contract
Before becoming a free agent in 2026, 28-year-old Kristaps Porziņģis is set to enter the last year of his $30.7 million deal. Despite only participating in 42 games due to illness and postseason injuries, he averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in the previous season, which helped Boston win the 2024 NBA Championship.
Porziņģis recently posted:
“I’ve been feeling excellent all offseason and look forward to a healthy and strong European championship tournament.”
Nets Add Yet Another Pick
Brooklyn continues stacking assets, adding the No. 22 overall pick to their war chest, bringing their total to five first-rounders in the 2025 NBA Draft (Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26, and 27). This pick was initially Atlanta’s.
Source: NBA