According to anonymous sources, the Washington Wizards have reached an agreement to trade center Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade. As part of the deal, Marcus Smart will be heading to the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade has not been officially announced yet, hence the sources requested anonymity. It should be noted that Porzingis has decided to exercise his player option for the upcoming season.
In addition to Porzingis, the Grizzlies will acquire Marcus Smart, who was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, from the Celtics. In exchange, Boston will receive first-round draft picks in 2023 and 2024. According to ESPN, the Wizards will also receive Tyus Jones from Memphis, as well as Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari, along with a second-round pick in this year’s draft from Boston.
The Celtics’ acquisition of the 7-foot-3 Porzingis comes after their defeat to the Miami Heat in a grueling seven-game series during the Eastern Conference finals. Porzingis had an impressive season in Washington, averaging a career-high of 23.2 points per game and 8.4 rebounds. Furthermore, he managed to stay healthy throughout the season, playing in 66 games, which is his highest number since his time with the New York Knicks in the 2016-17 season.
With the departure of Kristaps Porzingis, the Washington Wizards have now completed a rapid dismantling of their core. Prior to this trade, the Wizards had already agreed to send Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns, and Kyle Kuzma has chosen to decline his option. These moves signify a clear shift towards a rebuilding phase for the team under the leadership of their newly appointed team president, Michael Winger. Washington has failed to make the playoffs in the last two seasons, and these recent transactions highlight their commitment to restructuring and reevaluating their roster.
Marcus Smart has been a mainstay in the Boston Celtics organization, having played all nine of his NBA seasons with the team. He held the title of the longest-tenured player and was highly regarded for his strong presence in the locker room. Additionally, Smart ranks fourth in the franchise’s history for both 3-pointers made (911) and assists (2,700). His departure leaves the Celtics with Derrick White and reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon as the top candidates to fill the void left by Smart.
Smart’s addition to the Memphis Grizzlies brings valuable experience to a young team, particularly at the point guard position. This acquisition becomes even more crucial with the announcement of Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension for the upcoming season. Moreover, Smart’s playoff experience will be beneficial to the Grizzlies, who have struggled to win a playoff series despite their second-place finishes in the Western Conference over the past two seasons.
Although the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals in 2022, they were unable to replicate their success this season, despite the presence of talented players such as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
For Kristaps Porzingis, this trade marks his fourth NBA team. Originally drafted by the New York Knicks with the fourth overall pick in 2015, he spent three seasons with the Knicks before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 while recovering from knee surgery. The Wizards acquired him from the Mavericks 16 months ago, and now he will join the Boston Celtics.