Kristaps Porzingis unlocks Celtics championship potential
The Boston Celtics have been close to tasting NBA glory the past two seasons, but they have fallen short both times. Now with the addition of Kristaps Porziņģis, Boston looks as dangerous as it ever has in the Jayson Tatum era.
After a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it was clear that for the current Celtics core to reach their full potential change was needed.
For a team that lost the 2022 NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens could have justified keeping the core together. But instead, he took a risk in trading fan favorite Marcus Smart in return for an injury-prone big man.
Smart had been a beloved member of the Celtics since they drafted him sixth overall in the 2014 NBA draft. He was an elite defensive guard who won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2022. But he had offensive flaws that held the Celtics back.
Stevens saw these flaws and decided to pull off a blockbuster trade. Smart was traded to the Grizzlies while Porziņģis went from Washington to Boston along with the 25th overall pick and a 2024 first-round pick. The Wizards received Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala and the 35th overall pick to round out the three-team trade.
Porziņģis was coming off possibly the best season of his career in Washington after averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. But injury concerns remained for the Latvian who missed his entire 2018-19 season with an ACL injury.
Now 10 games into his Boston career, the move is paying dividends. The Celtics sit tied for first in the Eastern Conference with an 8-2 record.
Boston ranks third in the NBA in offensive rating (119.5) and second in defensive rating (105.8).
Porziņģis is averaging 19.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 56.5% from the field and a blistering 40.8% from three-point range.
The numbers do not tell the whole story though. Porziņģis is one of the few players who can consistently hit three-point shots from well outside the arc.
By pulling the man guarding him (usually a center) this far outside the paint, Porziņģis gives the Celtics All-Star duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown space to operate. Driving lanes are open more than ever as shot blockers are drawn away from the basket.
Following the Porziņģis move, Boston pulled off another blockbuster trade as it added Jrue Holiday in return for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III and two first-round picks.
Holiday is among the best defensive guards in the NBA and along with Derrick White, he has minimized the potential impact of losing Smart.
Holiday's numbers don't jump off the page this season - 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists. But he is a more reliable and better version of Smart. Holiday is less prone to taking questionable shots and is a better three-point shooter. He has shot 36.6% from three for his career compared to Smart's 32.3%.
The Celtics have gone all-in to pursue the ultimate goal. They still have one of basketball's best players in Tatum, an elite sidekick in Brown and a great supporting cast. They look like the best team in basketball. Anything less than an NBA championship will be a major disappointment.
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