The Boston Celtics have opened up the 2023 offseason with surprise fireworks, sending veteran guard Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies while reeling in former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis and draft equity according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This marks a massive shake-up for a Celtics team that came up short this spring in seeking a repeat trip to the NBA Finals.
Along with Porzingis, Boston will receive the No. 25 pick in Thursday’s draft from Memphis as well as a 2024 first-rounder from the Grizzlies via Golden State. Marcus Smart, the longest-tenured member of the Celtics, is headed to Memphis. Boston is sending the No. 35 pick in this year’s draft, Danilo Gallinari, and Mike Muscala to the Wizards. Memphis point guard Tyus Jones will be also be routed to Washington.
The 7’3″ Porzingis represents a huge injection of talent for Boston’s frontcourt. He spent last season posting career highs across the board with Washington, and the 27-year old gives the Celtics a new and dynamic weapon alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Marcus Smart’s departure, meanwhile, leaves a notable hole in Boston’s guard rotation and in the locker room.
The 2023 NBA draft could be key to any big moves made by Boston or they could have a quiet night picking No. 35; we explore that range. https://t.co/6SOlrEZ3EW
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 21, 2023
An earlier iteration of the deal included the Los Angeles Clippers, who reportedly pulled out from the trade citing injury concerns around Malcolm Brogdon. With a midnight deadline on Porzingis’ $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season, Washington and Boston quickly pivoted to salvage the trade and get a deal done. The Grizzlies got in on the action in the final moments, allowing a deal to ultimately go through.
Porzingis was an All-Star in 2018, and is one of the most unique players in the NBA. He’s a phenom on the defensive end, and averaged 1.5 blocks and 0.9 steals last year. On the other side of the action, he’s a deft shooter who can also bang down low. Porzingis connected on 38.5% of his 3s last season with the Wizards, scoring 23.2 points and grabbing 8.4 rebounds per game.
Porzingis will indeed be opting into the final year of his contract in order to facilitate the trade. He can sign an extension with Boston as soon as a few weeks from now. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Porzingis becomes eligible to sign a two-year, $77 million extension on July 6, a move that some around the league say is expected.
Earlier reports also indicated this trade likely signals the end of the Grant Williams era in part because Boston is adding such a hefty salary to the team’s books. The Celtics will need to address other roster concerns after almost parting ways with the reigning Sixth Man of the Year in Malcolm Brogdon and shipping out the club’s starting point guard.
The Clippers have reportedly pulled out of the three-team trade centered around Malcom Brogdon and Kristaps Porzingis because of injury concerns while Boston and Washington pursue other routes. https://t.co/3Zxu6gtAQU
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 22, 2023
Speculation that Boston needed to make changes to the team’s guard rotation had been growing louder over the last few days, especially with the NBA Draft and offseason rapidly approaching. After a disappointing postseason exit, the Celtics front office was unlikely to sit on the sidelines for too long, and Wojnarowski reported the Grizzlies have coveted Smart for some time.
This trade does help balance Boston’s depth chart, importantly taking pressure off of Al Horford. Porzingis can reliably provide much of the same two-way play Horford offers. Layer in Robert Williams III, and suddenly Boston has a very intriguing core of big men.
It’s ultimately unclear what Boston’s rotation will look like. Until decisions are made about Grant Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and others, a real depth chart is hard to parse out.
The 2023 NBA draft could be key to any big moves made by Boston or they could have a quiet night picking No. 35; we explore that range. https://t.co/3b1NwmeFYM
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 22, 2023
The move isn’t without its caveats. Porzingis’ injury history is notable. His long-term future with the team is unclear given his impending unrestricted free agency next summer. And Boston’s recent move to sack a coach for undisclosed behavior involving a problematic workplace relationship is hard to forget given similarly problematic allegations in Porzingis’ past.
There are also questions related to how this will all translate on the court. Porzingis is a high-usage player, just like Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The offensive geography here will take time to figure out.
Boston will also need to make decisions about the rest of the roster around this new nucleus. Can or should the relationship with Malcolm Brogdon be repaired?
The NBA draft is this Thursday, June 22nd. Celtics president Brad Stevens is expected to address the media that evening.
The market for Boston Celtics reserve forward Grant Williams is a considerable one based on what The Athletic is hearing. https://t.co/RkrboaApWn
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 21, 2023
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