Celtics ‘finalize new three-way trade for Wizards’ Kristaps Porzingis with the Grizzlies entering the action and acquiring Marcus Smart from Boston’ — after talks with the Clippers fall through
- Boston sends Marcus Smart to Memphis as part of the triple deal
- Previous negotiations with the LA Clippers have reportedly failed
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The Boston Celtics have closed a deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a new three-way transaction, according to a report.
The Celtics, Wizards and LA Clippers were reported to have been in talks earlier on Wednesday about a three-way trade that would see Porzingis heading to Boston, but those negotiations allegedly fell through and all three sides moved forward, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
However, the NBA Insider reported later that the Celtics managed to get a trade for their target just in time in another three-team deal.
The new deal would have involved the Grizzlies in addition to the Wizards and Boston, with Memphis sending Tyus Jones to the Wizards and receiving Marcus Smart from the Celtics.
Porzingis has reportedly signed on to his $36 million contract for the 2023-2024 season and has sealed his transfer to the Celtics.
The Boston Celtics have signed a deal to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Wizards
According to the former three-way trade, Porzingis would have been sent to Boston, while Malcolm Brogdon would have gone to LA and the Wizards would have acquired Marcus Morris and drafted compensation, according to The athletic.
Talks reportedly broke down when the Clippers raised concerns about Brogdon’s injury status, according to Mark Stein. However, he added that a direct trade between the Wizards and the Celtics “has not been ruled out.”
The reported deal would have been a huge boost for the Celtics after a crash in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals, as they would add Porzingis to a starting five already consisting of All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Porzingis averaged a career-high 23.2 points with the Wizards last season, along with 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Boston would have given up the sixth man of the year in Brogdon, but would have remained well covered in the backcourt with Derrick White and Marcus Smart already on the roster.
Washington was also expected to be picked as the Clippers’ number 30 in Thursday’s NBA Draft as part of the deal, according to The athletic.
Morris could also have been used in a separate design fee deal.
The forward averaged 11.2 points per game at 36.4 percent from three-point range last season, but will turn 34 in September and doesn’t seem to fit into the Wizards’ now-rebuilding timeline.
If Washington had agreed to part ways with Porzingis, it would have come after the team traded Bradley Beal to the Suns last week.
That deal didn’t get them a first-round pick, but it did see them take over Chris Paul, Landry Shamet and multiple second-round picks, according to reports.