Hawks Acquire Porzingis in Three-Team Trade with Celtics, Nets

Photo credit: Ken Blaze, USA Today Sports

The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets completed a three team trade on Tuesday evening ahead of Wednesday’s NBA Draft. The Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks and got Georges Niang and a second round pick in return. The Nets in the deal received Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick in Wednesday’s draft. The deal was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

This marks the second trade in less than 24 hours for the Celtics, who on Monday night traded Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons. Porzingis is set to make $30.7 million in 2025-26. With both moves, the Celtics have shed salary. The Nets, meanwhile, now possess the No. 8, 19th, 22nd, 26th, and 27th picks in the 2025 draft. 

For the Hawks, they get a player in Porzingis who played forty-two games this past season and averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game. He shot 48.3% from the field and played sparingly in the Celtics’ Eastern Conference Semifinal series against the New York Knicks, topping out at twenty-four minutes in Game 4. He scored in double-figures in the postseason twice - 20 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2 in the first round against the Orlando Magic and 19 points in Game 4 of that series. If he is healthy, he gives the Hawks a guy who can stretch the floor, score inside and out, and protect the rim. He can pair with Trae Young for a guard-big man combo, and the Hawks have talent on their roster in the form of 23-year-old Jalen Johnson (18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists) and 20-year-old 2024 first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, who averaged 12.6 points as a rookie.

The Celtics are entering a retool, getting rid of the Porzingis and Holiday salaries as Jayson Tatum will miss most of if not all of 2025-26 with his torn Achilles. They will still be a competitive team though as they still have their depth. Expect a heavily increased role for Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard. 

The Nets, with their slew of first rounders, are likely not done making moves.