Kristaps Porzingis has shown Celtics fans what they're missing

Kristaps Porzingis has shown Celtics fans what they're missing

Earlier this summer, president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, signed off on a three-team trade that landed Porzingis with the Atlanta Hawks. The championship-winning big man is entering the final year of his current contract, and the Celtics needed to shed salary to duck under the second luxury tax apron.

Porzingis' exit from Boston comes after he struggled for fitness in both of his postseason runs with the franchise. Therefore, parting ways with the "unicorn" made sense, both financially and from a basketball perspective.

However, when healthy, Porzingis was a major part of Joe Mazzulla's puzzle. And, with his recent performances at the EuroBasket tournament, it's easy to see why. Porzingis has played like he has a point to prove. Whether that point is for the Celtics or for Atlanta is anybody's guess. Nevertheless, he's been dominant during his six-game span and will head into the new season full of momentum.

Kristaps Porzingis is excited for Hawks' tenure

When speaking to BasketNews ahead of the EuroBasket tournament, Porzingis discussed being traded to the Hawks. He noted how he's excited to play in an environment that isn't filled with the pressure of championship expectations.

“I think expectations are high. It’s a great situation for me to come in and contribute. Maybe even better than Boston, where it was championship or bust. I think we can surprise some people in the East.”

Having won a championship in 2024, Porzingis will provide some much-needed leadership to a young and developing Hawks roster. He could also form a fearsome partnership with superstar guard Trae Young. However, his injury history should give Hawks fans reason for pause. Fortunately, if things don't work out, the star center will hit the free agency market next summer.

From Atlanta's point of view, they've rolled the dice on a low-risk, high-reward addition. However, for Porzingis, now is the time to prove that his health issues are behind him, and he can still be a highly impactful talent at the NBA level. His performances at EuroBasket are a good start.