Kristaps Porzingis just closed the book on time with Celtics

Just over two weeks ago, Kristaps Porzingis became the second Boston Celtics player to fall victim to the constraints of the league’s newest CBA. The big man was offloaded in a salary-shedding trade, which sent him to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Georges Niang.

While it seems like the big man would’ve liked to remain with the Celtics, especially considering the connection he had to the fanbase, he doesn’t at all seem bitter about the move.

“Our season (with the Celtics) didn’t end last year the way we wanted to,” Porzingis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a phone interview Wednesday. “But this is how it goes, you know. And obviously, we expected that there were going to be changes in my whole team.”

Porzingis, who struggled immensely in the playoffs as he battled a lingering illness, believes the early playoff exit will give him the time needed to be 100% by the time training camp rolls around with the Hawks.

“And having a little bit longer summer than usual is awesome always as a player, because it’s just, the NBA season is tough… and just having this time off and being able to recharge a bit and get ready for a big summer, and then going into next year, it’s, honestly, it’s the perfect scenario, the perfect scenario. And I’m super, super excited about what’s coming.”

Atlanta’s team next season projects to be an exciting one. Adding Porzingis to their core of Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson should push the Hawks towards the top of the Eastern Conference. His presence in the paint will help to make up for some of the defensive capabilities that Young lacks.

It sounds like Brad Stevens handled the Kristaps Porzingis trade quite well

Not only did Brad Stevens trade him to the near-perfect destination, but he was straightforward with Porzingis, as well as Jrue Holiday from the jump.

"I actually talked to both those guys a couple of weeks before and just said, 'Listen, there's a chance that you're back, but there's also a chance that you're not,'" Stevens explained Tuesday during his availability at the Auerbach Center.

The moment when he had to actually deliver the news to KP was a tad more awkward, though.

"It's never easy," Stevens explained. "Well, Porzingis was asleep, and by the time he woke up, I was asleep. But he knew he was probably going to get traded, so I think he was okay."

In two seasons with the Celtics, Porzingis appeared in 99 regular-season games, playing about 29.3 minutes each time. He averaged 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field and 39.2% from deep. Though he was largely unavailable during both playoff runs, his defining moment as a Celtic came in Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals, where he exploded for 20 points in his return to action.

Porzingis’ tenure in Boston was a short one, but he’ll likely be remembered fondly by the majority of the team’s fan base.