It seems that Kristaps Porzingis may have helped steer himself to the Boston Celtics by using the threat of signing with the Utah Jazz in free agency to do so according to new reporting from Substack’s Marc Stein. Per Stein, “multiple rival teams … were convinced Porziņģis, had he not landed with the Celtics, was poised to receive strong free agent interest from Utah had he elected to decline his $36 million player option”.
“The threat of losing Porziņģis without compensation appears to have been sufficiently credible to add some momentum to the Wizards’ determination to finalize a trade agreement,” added the Substack NBA reporter.
“Did the Jazz actually have a place for Porziņģis alongside Markkanen and Kessler?” pondered Stein.
Celtics Lab 203: On the lack of love and trust in Boston after Marcus Smart's trade with Jack Simone https://t.co/lr6QR8rck4 via @thecelticswire pic.twitter.com/iZWfF0u1ch
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 22, 2023
“The 7-foot-3 Latvian won’t have to test those limits now that a deal to his preferred destination — Boston — came together.”
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