JULY 12: Porzingis’ two-year extension with the Celtics is official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
The deal, which is worth exactly $60MM, will pay the big man approximately $29.3MM in 2024/25 and $30.7MM in ’25/26, Hoops Rumors has learned.
JUNE 30: The Celtics and newly acquired big man Kristaps Porzingis are expected to finalize a two-year contract extension worth $60MM, reports Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT (Twitter link).
Porzingis, who was acquired by Boston in a trade last week, is extension-eligible but can only tack on a maximum of two new years to his current deal due to the NBA’s extend-and-trade restrictions. Marc Stein reported multiple times that Porzingis was likely to receive an extension from Boston.
A former All-Star with the Knicks, Porzingis has dealt with a series of injuries throughout his career, including a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2018/19 season. However, he enjoyed his finest NBA season in ’22/23 with the Wizards, averaging 23.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 0.9 SPG and 1.5 BPG in 65 games (32.6 MPG).
In addition to his strong rim protection at 7’3″, Porzingis was also a very efficient scorer last season, posting a .498/.385/.851 shooting line, good for a 62.7% true shooting percentage, which accounts for twos, threes and free throws. He isn’t a traditional back-to-the-basket big man, but he excelled in the post in ’22/23 by using his size to shoot over opponents.
While the 27-year-old had a great season, it’s a major risk to add another $60MM to Porzingis’ contract. With Jaylen Brown highly likely to receive a super-max extension this summer (it will kick in next year) and Jayson Tatum certain to receive the same in 2024 (it would start in 2025), the Celtics are looking like a repeat taxpayer for the foreseeable future.
Still, if they can break through and win a title (or titles) in the coming years, I’m sure ownership will be happy to foot the bill.
Rory Maher contributed to this story.
Kristaps Porzingis going to make some noise on the Boston Celtics!!!
The cry of “ouch” when he gets hurt?
Exactly let everybody keep hating and wishing injury on Porzingis. The Celtics and Brad Stevens are gonna be the last one’s laughing when they’re in the finals next year with a chance to win a championship. It’s crazy how we get so much hate for trading for Porzingis and signing him to a good two year extension but if it was any other team that did the same trade we wouldn’t be hearing anything about it
I’m sure he and Marcus Smart will play well together…
Long as he stays healthy this should work out great.
Haha, Celtics future is screwed.
The Celtics future was already either win with Brown and Tatum or risk a multi-year rebuild and waste away one (whichever not traded… probably Tatum’s) prime years. This makes the MOST sense. Is Porzingis the absolute undeniable 3rd star they need? No but that player wasn’t attainable. Porzingis might be it and they need to win now or else be stuck for longer.
You scared
I’m still amazed that the Boston Media Mafia ballooned Smart’s value so much by talking him up that he was traded for Porzingis and multiple firsts. Seems almost hard to believe.
Memphis loves those overrated ex-Celtic defensive players, they also signed Tony Allen back in the day.
Well done!!!
KP is with the right team. He fits well there. I think winning will push him to play consistent. Celtics are better.
Defensively is where you have to watch him. Celtics have bigs who can watch his back. So this could really work well.
Only issue with KP6 is can he stay healthy. When he’s been healthy for more than month at a time, he’s been a dominant 2 way big, with 4/5 position flexibility. But in sound bites, reticent fearing re-injury, he’s an ill fitting piece.
BOS’s prospects for next season rest on the health of KP6 and Brogdon, two guys who have struggled to play 60 games a year. If both are relatively healthy going to and through the playoffs, I think BOS is the favorite to come out of the EC. If both are in street clothes for most of the year, I think BOS will be searching for depth all year, and that almost never ends well.