By Cesare Milanti/ info@eurohoops.net
As anticipated by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Kristaps Porzingis has been traded by the Washington Wizards to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team deal hours before the 2023 NBA Draft.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, in fact, other than the Latvian big man, Boston Celtics‘ Marcus Smart and Memphis Grizzlies‘ Tyus Jones will be on the move, respectively to Memphis and Washington. The Celtics are also sending forward Danilo Gallinari and center Mike Muscala to Washington as part of the deal.
Also, “Memphis is sending Boston its first-round pick in Thursday’s draft – the 25th overall selection – as well as the Golden State Warriors‘ top-four-protected first-round pick in 2024, sources said, while the Celtics are sending the 35th pick in Thursday’s draft to Washington”.
In the beginning, Washington and Boston were working with the Los Angeles Clippers over another three-team agreement that would’ve sent Malcolm Brogdon to Los Angeles, the 30th pick in the draft to the Wizards, and Porzingis to the Celtics. When this one fell apart, Memphis entered the conversation.
In 65 appearances with Washington, Kristaps Porzingis had a career-high 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks. With only one year left in his contract, the 27-year-old is now expected to sign a two-year extension with Boston, according to Marc Stein.
Marcus Smart, who was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, had 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game in Boston this year. He should have been Danilo Gallinari’s teammate, but the Italian veteran tore his ACL before EuroBasket 2022.
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images