The Celtics traded Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks on Tuesday in a three-team deal that will send Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft to the Nets, while Georges Niang and a second-round pick head to Boston, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
After being a key contributor to Boston's title charge in 2023-24, Porzingis played just 42 regular-season games in 2024-25, and an illness made him a relative non-factor in the team's playoff loss to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. While Porzingis has consistently dealt with injuries throughout his career, he is an elite floor-spacing big man with efficient scoring and premier shot-blocking abilities when healthy. In Atlanta, Porzingis will likely be a prominent pick-and-roll partner with Trae Young and could play alongside either Jalen Johnson or Onyeka Okongwu in the frontcourt. Porzingis is under contract for only one more season.
Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Sees 11 minutes in Game 6
Rotowire
Porzingis closed Friday's 119-81 loss to New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with four points (1-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), five rebounds and one block across 11 minutes.
Throughout the postseason, and especially in this series, it's been very evident that Porzingis is far from 100 percent. The franchise will be hopeful that he can recover his health over the long offseason. Although he had his fair share of injuries in the regular season, Porzingis was terrific when healthy, as he averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks in 42 regular-season contests.
Porzingis is not in the starting lineup for Game 6 against the Knicks on Friday.
Porzingis has struggled massively in the series and was outplayed by Luke Kornet in the Game 5 win Wednesday, so it's not entirely surprising to see the former move to a bench role. Porzingis is averaging 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds across 16.4 minutes per game in the series while starting in just two of the six outings.
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Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Not on injury report
Rotowire
Porzingis (illness) is not on the injury report for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the Knicks on Friday.
Coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis "couldn't breathe" during Game 5, and the big man wasn't able to play in the second half after logging 12 minutes in the first half with a single point to his name. Porzingis hasn't looked like himself in a long time, and with Luke Kornet shining in Game 5, rotation changes could be on the table.
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Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Trouble breathing in Game 5
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Coach Joe Mazzulla said Porzingis "couldn't breathe" and wasn't available for the second half unless it was "absolutely necessary" in Wednesday's 127-102 win over the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Porzingis logged one point (0-3 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), one rebound and one block across 12 minutes.
Porzingis hasn't looked like himself during the series as he continues to battle an illness. It seemed like the issue subsided after he played 24 minutes in Game 4 and was part of Wednesday's starting lineup. However, the illness continues to plague Porzingis, and the Celtics held him out of the second half due to his difficulty breathing. His absence allowed Luke Kornet to play 26 minutes, and Kornet logged 10 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks. Porzingis' status should be monitored ahead of Friday's Game 6 in New York.
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Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Starting Game 5
Rotowire
Porzingis will enter the starting lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals versus the Knicks on Wednesday, Sean Sean Grande of NBC Sports Boston reports.
With Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined, the Celtics will roll with a traditional frontcourt with Porzingis next to Al Horford. It's no secret that Porzingis hasn't been 100 percent after his illness, so it will be interesting to see how he fares with increased usage Wednesday.
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Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis: Struggles continue in Game 4
Rotowire
Porzingis racked up seven points (2-6 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-6 FT), four rebounds and one steal in 24 minutes during Monday's 121-113 loss to the Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Porzingis has played off the bench in the Celtics' last three games and had another dismal showing against his former team, failing to reach double-digit points for the fourth time in four games in the series. The Celtics need more from Porzingis, especially if Jayson Tatum (lower leg) ends up missing time after departing Monday's game with an injury. Porzingis is averaging 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in the series.
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