Celtics Rumors: Kristaps Porzingis-Malcolm Brogdon 3-Team Trade Falls Apart

It appears Washington Wizards veteran Kristaps Porziņģis may not be moved to the Boston Celtics after all.

The three-team trade talks involving Porziņģis, Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon and the Los Angeles Clippers and Marcus Morris "have fallen apart," according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who added that the "sides are moving on."

Wojnarowski initially reported late Wednesday evening that the Celtics were working on a three-team deal involving the Wizards and Clippers. The deal would have sent Brogdon to the Clippers, Porziņģis to the Celtics and Morris, Amir Coffey and the 30th pick in the 2023 NBA draft to the Wizards.

The deal fell apart after the Clippers raised concerns about Brogdon's injury status, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. A direct deal between the Wizards and Celtics involving Porziņģis "has not been ruled out," he added.

Wojnarowski also reported that the Wizards "are still working on ways to get Kristaps Porziņģis to the Celtics in an opt-in and trade scenario." It would not be in a three-team deal involving the Clippers.

Porziņģis has a $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season and can decline it to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The Celtics acquired Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers ahead of the 2022-23 season and he proved to be a valuable addition for Boston as he played a key role off the bench, averaging 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 67 games while shooting 48.4 percent from the floor and 44.4 percent from deep.

However, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year suffered a partial tear in the tendon coming out of his right elbow during the 2023 postseason and no determination has been made about whether he will need surgery this summer.

Brogdon is "optimistic he will avoid surgery" this offseason, according to The Athletic's Jared Weiss. It's possible the Clippers didn't share that same optimism, though nothing has been confirmed.

Brogdon, who was a starter during his time with the Pacers, could have been a nice addition alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in Los Angeles, but now the Clippers will be looking elsewhere for point guard help.

The Wizards, meanwhile, are in rebuilding mode following the trade that sent Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. That said, it's no surprise they're trying to move Porziņģis this summer as he's one of their more valuable trade chips.

The Celtics have been looking to bolster their center depth this offseason alongside Al Horford and Robert Williams III, and Porziņģis would have been a nice addition to Boston's starting lineup alongside Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

While the 27-year-old does have a lengthy injury history, he's coming off a solid 2022-23 campaign in which he averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 65 games while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from deep.

The Latvian brings the scoring versatility at center that the Celtics have been looking for as he's able to score both in the paint and from the perimeter. Boston prioritized the three-point shot in 2022-23, averaging the second-most three-point attempts per game in the league behind the Golden State Warriors.

If the Celtics and Wizards can still hammer out a deal involving Porziņģis, it will be a big win for Boston as it attempts to retool its roster around Tatum and Brown in hopes of contending for an NBA title in 2023-24 and beyond.