Kristaps Porzingis Reportedly Seen as Celtics' 'Top Trade Candidate' by NBA Execs
Kristaps Porziņģis may be the most likely member of the Boston Celtics' championship core to be traded this offseason.
HoopsHype's Michael Scotto wrote Wednesday that "several executives around the league believe Boston will explore the trade market" for Porziņģis, who is "viewed by executives around the league as Boston’s top trade candidate to trim salary for next season."
Porziņģis is set to earn $30.7 million on an expiring contract next season per Spotrac.
He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks through 42 regular-season games while batting a lingering illness that limited him during the playoffs.
According to Scotto, the Celtics front office "knew big roster changes were likely coming after the season, given the team’s upcoming payroll and luxury tax bill" even before Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles tendon on May 12.
After Tatum's injury, one NBA executive told Scotto: “Boston needs to get off two big salaries at least, or they’ll have massive tax implications. Tatum’s injury lets them use next year as a gap year to audition other players or young guys.”
The Celtics are currently projected to exceed the second tax apron in 2025-26 by just under $20 million, per Spotrac.
That comes with a host of penalties restricting Boston's ability to sign players, aggregate contracts in trades and trade future first-rounders.
Trading the entirety of Porziņģis' salary would allow the Celtics to dip below the second apron, but the only NBA team that could take on the remaining $30.7 million without sending a player back is the Brooklyn Nets, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The Celtics could alternatively trade Porziņģis to another team and take back $22 million in player contracts, Marks reported. That theoretical move would get Boston closer to, but not below, the second apron line.
Any trades involving Porziņģis could be complicated by his health issues. The 29-year-old center was a key part of the Celtics' 2024 title run, but his playing time dropped and coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters he had breathing issues as he battled an upper respiratory illness during the 2025 postseason.
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens said after the Celtics' elimination that Porziņģis was expected to play in Eurobasket 2025 later this summer, and that he was certain the center's illness will be "well-cleared up by then." Porziņģis' ability to play in August could shape what his next season in the NBA looks like.
