The Boston Celtics might have timed their trade of Kristaps Porzingis perfectly, if recent reports about his EuroBasket performance are to be believed. Despite posting solid numbers for Latvia, NBA scouts were reportedly underwhelmed by Porzingis’ overall impact during the tournament.
According to The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed that several scouts didn’t think Porzingis looked like the dominant force they’ve come to expect. “Scouts were not blown away by the way Kristaps Porzingis looked,” Windhorst said. “They didn’t see the kind of impact player they’re used to. He admitted he feels better than he did last spring, but he’s still not fully back to where he was health-wise.”
If those concerns prove accurate, Boston may have made a smart move by dealing him when they did. While the Celtics didn’t get a major haul in return, they successfully offloaded his sizable contract possibly avoiding long-term issues tied to his health and declining performance.
Did the Celtics Trade Kristaps Porzingis at the Perfect Time?
Kristaps Porzingis had a rough showing in last season’s playoffs, largely due to an illness that impacted his energy and effectiveness. While he claimed to feel better during EuroBasket, his performance still fell short of expectations especially in the eyes of NBA scouts.
Though some Celtics fans were ready to move on after his postseason struggles, the truth is that Boston was likely going to trade Porzingis regardless. The team faced major financial pressure to get under the second tax apron this summer, a goal they’ve since accomplished.
The Celtics sent Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Georges Niang and draft capital. However, Niang was quickly rerouted to the Utah Jazz for undrafted rookie RJ Luis Jr., effectively making the final return for Porzingis a two-way rookie.
While that return isn’t particularly impressive, it might not matter in the bigger picture. According to reports, scouts no longer see Porzingis as the impact player he once was. Given his long-standing injury history and underwhelming recent play, it’s possible that last season’s playoffs marked the beginning of a decline. If EuroBasket was any indication of where Porzingis is headed, then the Celtics may have moved on at exactly the right time.
