The Washington Wizards’ offseason of change keeps chugging along as another player is reportedly on his way out. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, forward Kristaps Porzingis will be dealt to the Boston Celtics as a part of a three-team deal.
Porzingis agreed to opt into his deal before being dealt to Boston. As a part of the deal, the Washington Wizards would receive Tyus Jones from the Memphis Grizzlies and Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala from the Celtics.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, would receive Marcus Smart from the Celtics while sending their 25th pick in this year’s Draft and a 2024 first-round pick via the Golden State Warriors to the Celtics.
Celtics receive:
- Kristaps Porzingis
- No. 25 pick in 2023 Draft via Grizzlies
- 2024 first-round pick via Warriors
Grizzlies receive:
- Marcus Smart
Wizards receive:
- Tyus Jones
- Danilo Gallinari
- Mike Muscala
- No. 25 pick in 2023 Draft via Celtics
Last season, Porzingis averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in 32.6 minutes per game. He played in 65 games — his most since a 66-game run with the New York Knicks in 2016-17 — and was healthy after a variety of injuries sapped him of consistency over the past three seasons.
In Boston, Porzingis will join a talented core that includes All-NBA performers Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown along with shot-blocking center Robert Williams.
The 24-year-old Tatum is signed for the next two seasons, still under his rookie extension that kicked in last season. He won’t be eligible for a supermax extension until the summer of 2024. It would start in 2025-26 and could be worth more than $300 million.
Brown, 26, is eligible for a new deal this offseason, and by virtue of making the All-NBA second team this season could be offered as much as a five-year contract extension worth as much as $295 million.
The Celtics’ frontline for next season is already a bit thinned, perhaps. Defensive specialist Grant Williams had offseason surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left hand. He is a restricted free agent and could leave this summer. He averaged career highs in minutes (25.9), points (8.1) and rebounds (4.6) during the regular season. But each of those numbers fell during the playoffs as he slipped in and out of the rotation.
Smart, 29, had played all nine NBA seasons with the Celtics, earning a reputation for hard-nosed defense and fierce leadership, collecting 2022 Kia Defensive Player of the Year hardware, a trio of NBA Hustle awards (’19, ’22-23) and three All-Defensive 1st Team honors (’19-20, ’22). Last season, he put up 11.5 points — shooting 41.5% overall and 33.6% from deep) and a career-high 6.3 assists, and offers the Grizzlies a steady hand to manage the point during Ja Morant’s 25-game minimum suspension to open the season.
Outgoing Grizzlies PG Jones, 27, has been regarded as one of the league’s best backups. He turned in a career-high campaign during the 2022-23 season, setting highs in points (10.3), assists (5.2) and minutes (24.3) across 80 games. The move to rebuilding Washington offers the chance to show he’s ready for a leading role.
Porzingis’ opt-in-and-trade must be finalized by June 29, the opt-in deadline for next season. His move to Boston comes just days after the Wizards reportedly agreed to a blockbuster trade that will send former All-Star guard Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. In that reported swap, the Wizards get back former All-Star guard Chris Paul as well as guard Landry Shamet, forward Isaiah Todd and multiple future second-round picks.
Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma reportedly opted out of his deal for 2023-24 and may leave via free agency. If that happens and given Porzingis’ departure, Morris would likely have a large role in a forward lineup that to date features Corey Kispert and Deni Avdija.
Washington began its offseason by firing GM Tommy Sheppard in mid-April after the team missed the playoffs and the AT&T Play-In Tournament. A month later, the team hired former Clippers general manager Michael Winger as President of Monumental Basketball.
The Wizards, who last won an NBA championship in 1978, missed the playoffs the last two seasons with 35-47 records and haven’t advanced past the first round since 2016-17. Washington has three picks in the 2023 NBA Draft: No. 8, No. 42 and No. 57.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
