One day after agreeing to trade Jrue Holiday, the Celtics are moving another starter. Kristaps Porzingis is headed to the Hawks in a three-team trade, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (Twitter link).
Atlanta will acquire Porzingis and a second-round pick in the deal; Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 pick in Wednesday’s draft are headed to the Nets; and the Celtics are acquiring Georges Niang and a second-round pick.
That second-round pick headed to Boston is coming from Atlanta and is the Cavaliers’ 2031 second-rounder, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link). In exchange, the Celtics are sending a 2026 second-rounder with “least favorable” language to the Hawks, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The trade, coupled with the agreed-upon Holiday deal with Portland, will allow the Celtics to drop below the second tax apron by $4.5MM, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets. The two deals will reduce their projected luxury tax penalty by nearly $210MM, estimates cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).
Porzingis has an expiring $30.7MM contract, while Niang’s expiring deal totals just $8.5MM. Shedding salary has been a goal this offseason for the Celtics, who were facing second-apron restrictions and substantial repeater taxpayer penalties with Jayson Tatum expected to miss most or all of next season while he recovers from a torn Achilles.
A 6’7″ marksman with a career average of 39.9% from beyond the arc, Niang will fit right in as the newest member of the NBA’s leading three-point shooting team in Boston. The 32-year-old forward played some of the best basketball of his career after being traded from Cleveland to Atlanta in February, averaging 12.1 points and posting a 41.3% mark on 6.6 threes per game in 28 games for the Hawks.
While the deal gives the Celtics another shooter and creates substantial tax savings, it depletes their depth in the frontcourt, where Al Horford and Luke Kornet are eligible for free agency. Re-signing one or both of those players while potentially adding another big man figures to be a top priority for Boston this summer.
Meanwhile, with Clint Capela headed to free agency, it appears Porzingis will slot in as the Hawks’ starting center ahead of Onyeka Okongwu. He’ll give Atlanta a quality pick-and-roll partner to team up with franchise player Trae Young and will become extension-eligible in July, though it’s unclear whether his new team will look to extend him right away.
Porzingis has an extensive injury history and was hampered this past season by a lingering illness that affected him during the second half and into the postseason, but the expectation is that he’ll be fully recovered by the fall. The veteran big man continues to produce at a high level when he’s available, having averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes per game across 42 starts for the Celtics in 2024/25, with a shooting line of .483/.412/.809.
The Hawks were rumored to have interest in free agent big man Myles Turner, another rim-protecting, floor-stretching center. Their acquisition of Porzingis will presumably take them out of the mix for Turner, but they’re still well below the projected tax line and continue to explore opportunities to use a trade exception worth $25MM+, either on the trade market or in free agency (via sign-and-trade), tweets Fischer.
Atlanta made “a lot of calls” about Mann this week, according to Fischer (Twitter link), before eventually finding a taker for the 6’5″ swingman.
Mann, a Brooklyn native, has three years and $47MM remaining on his contract. Acquired from the Clippers at this year’s trade deadline, he had a solid finish to the season on Atlanta’s second unit alongside Niang, averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 22.7 minutes per game across 30 outings. He posted a shooting line of .541/.386/.667 as a Hawk.
Accounting for Mann’s $15.5MM salary and the $3.4MM cap hold for the No. 22 overall pick, the Nets will use up roughly $19MM in cap space to make the deal, which can’t be completed until July 6, after the new league year begins and the July moratorium lifts.
Brooklyn still projects to have substantial cap room and now controls an amazing five first-rounders in this week’s draft — Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26, 27 — which undoubtedly will lead to more deals.
Luke Adams contributed to this story.
And I was told they wouldn’t just tank this year…
My Trade Grade
Celtics A
Save $23 million plus tax, save $100 million?)
Hawks B
Giving up #22 is too much? IMO, right price
Porzingis is a top 10 big man
Nets B
Mann + #22 = right price
Celtics may have saved money but they didn’t get much back.
What are you going to get for a guy on an expiring contract that’s been injured the majority of the past two playoffs?
The money is what they get back
Why do the Celtics get an A for this trade?? Saving a billionaire millions doesn’t make it a good trade
Do some research on the draft penalties for being in the second apron.
Second Apron penalties.
First-round picks seven years out cannot be traded
Teams will no longer be able to use the taxpayer mid-level exception (Vet Mins ONLY)
If a team remains in the second apron three out of five seasons, their first-round pick will automatically move to the end of the round
Outgoing salaries cannot be aggregated or combined in trades
Cannot acquire a player in return in an outgoing sign-and-trade
Teams can’t use trade exceptions created from a prior year
Teams can no longer use cash in trades
Gotta look at bigger picture for the Hawks. Mann had three years left at 15.5, 15.5, and 16m. Niang was one year at 8.2m. Porzingis is one year left at $30m, if Atlanta even keeps him.
This gives Atlanta extension flexibility, which I believe is their primary reason for this deal. Getting even a starting player at #22 is only slightly less likely than winning Powerball or Mega Millions (joking of course, but go back through the NBA Draft history on Wiki and look at how few players outside the top 5 ever make All-NBA for even one season). It’s a sad fact that the NBA is a lottery pick driven league with an occasional generational exception.
In addition to this, it frees up minutes at SG/SF for better players. Hawks were a bit crowded there.
I give the Hawks an A when I look at it that way.
My guess is that the Nets move up to the #3 in exchange for the 8 & the 22nd pick. Seems like the Sixers want to move down. The Nets would then grab Edgecombe.
Unlikely, because the wiz would offer the 6 and 18 for the 3, and with my limited math skills that’s better.
If that’s available, then sure, that’s better.
Hawks are giving up #22 to get rid of Mann’s contract.
My grade of your grade. F.
Sillivan…I like this for Atlanta. Agree the no.22 pick is no laughing matter but I see why Atlanta took a swing. The East is compromised next season already. Teams like Orlando and possibly Atlanta think they can go deep after watching Indy. Still got Okongwu and Jalen to come back and whilst that French kid who’s name I don’t want to butcher is on a rookie deal, why not? Daniels, Kristaps can make up a little for Trae on the defensive end. Still in good shape cap wise, I like it.
They are definitely not tanking. Clearly taking a step back, but this is a playoff team for sure.
“Tank”. You think they’re gonna get the number one pick bro? That word doesn’t mean what you think it means.
Porzingis is hurt all the time and on an expiring and Tatum is out all year. What would you do? Extend him?
I was probably one of those who disagreed with you. I thought they would run it back and hope. Honestly didn’t think they would be able to move off these contracts so easily.
Wow, must be a salary dump, Boston just gave him away.
Celtics trade $31 million for $8 Million
Save $23 million plus tax
Dude has played 1 full season in like the last 6-7.
TF do you think he was worth at this point? Only Ben Simmons wears street clothes more than him.
Zion would like a word.
Tingus pingus
HAHA
Peak staged vine/youtube. Reacting while rewatching the draft is like those videos of people breaking already junk tvs when their team loses.
I’m a fan of Applesnaps Porkfingers myself but tingus pingus is a classic
I’m not the biggest basketball fan admittedly….but this seems like a bad trade for the Hawks that have a strong young core. Please tell me why I’m wrong naysayers and more knowledgeable basketball fans (seriously lol). Backup Center?
Jaylen Brown Tank Commander
They have an undersized center. Porzingis, when healthy, is one of the better centers in the league. Atlanta needed an upgrade, and for the price of the #22 pick and a couple of non-essential role players it seems like a reasonable gamble.
Jalen Johnson will be back and they will probably contend without Kristaps. If they get him for 50+ games and the playoffs, they could go pretty far.
See my post above. This is about freeing up extension money. With Niang and Mann going out, they are only taking on $8m for next year with Porzingis (if they don’t move him). It frees up 15,5 and 16m for 26&27. That means they can fit in an extension to one of the guys with one year left on rookie deal more easily.
Still need to save room for Lavert in my opinion, but they gave up nothing to get financial flexibility. And yes, I think the #22 pick is essentially nothing. Mann was probably their 5th wing in their rotation, if that, so getting rid of his contract helps.
Future salary also makes sense. Although it begs the question, why did they trade for Mann in the first place place?
Bro you should comment more. I def disagree that the 22 pick is nothing but I completely agree about the rest. Overall you seem to embrace logic & I fw that.
This mystery illness I feel has played apart here.
He had Hawks Fever. Celtics gave him what he wanted.
Never saw this coming…wow!
Wonder what the seconds are
Celtics have a protected one from the rockets, this better be that one
So the Celtics were perennial chokers before Porzingis and Holiday arrived. They put them over the top, and now gone. Guess Celtics wanted money more than being title contenders
The new rules are intended to break apart teams like this. They are so punishing, that it is hard to operate in the second apron. C’s would definitely prefer to keep both players. As of now there is only one or two teams in the second apron (the cavs and maybe the suns). My guess is they don’t stay there. The league and owners wanted a defacto hard cap and that is what they got.
Agreed. Intelligent comment. This season the Celtics had the chance to win the title. Just didn’t work out.
Very difficult to be good enough and lucky enough to win the title let alone winning the title two seasons in a row.
CBA was designed to keep teams from becoming a dynasty. Some of teh small market complained but now that they reaped the awards this year it will start hitting the small market teams and they will be complaining.
Did you see Tatum did is achilles?
The Celtics won a title a year ago? How do you think basketball works bro. Who hurt you lol
Yes that’s the point. Maybe read what was said
Yes, It was Porzingis, Mr. Reliable himself, who put them over the top the past two years ya big genius.
He’s on an expiring contract. You want to lock him up for another 5 years?
For the 2024 season absolutely
Bad move for the Celtics competing wise and short term. It shows the management doesn’t trust brown to lead their squad alongside their weapons that made them contenders in Porzingis, holiday and white.
Celtics doing this to save money which throws away their season. But long term, it gives them capital to retool for when Tatum comes back and maybe land another star in the next draft
It doesn’t just save money (by the way the way the penalties are high enough that they would operate at a loss), but it also prevents future draft picks from being moved to the back of the draft. The rules are essentially a hard cap. I don’t like it.
Yeah not a fan. It comes down to money at the end of the day and not believing they’re current team can win without Tatum
It’s not about vision or win.
For quite a few owners, NBA is a business.
Business >> Wins
Yeah I agree with that too. Celtics management prefer to save money over trusting brown and the current squad to compete. Very unfortunate to be a Celtics fan which I am not lol
Do some research on the Draft position penalties for being in the second apron because you obviously don’t know what they are. And yes, very unfortunate to be a fan of a team who won a chip last year and has the most in history.
“Celtics doing this to save money which throws away their season.”
Tatum getting hurt threw away their season. They weren’t championship contenders this year. No reason to carry Holliday and Tingus Pingus. Rearrange the roster for financial manuverability and come back when Tatum is healthy.
Nets getting a 5th 1st rder this year?
Don’t like the Mann plant as a sign for Brk going Big this summer which coulda been fun
Gotta hand it to Bos, if the escape room route was the direction the compass was pointing they killed it as far as not giving any future value away , *looks like they are actually + 2 2nd rders on the 2 trades , impressive 48 hrs
ATL
Trae Dyson Jalen KP Okungwu
Risacher off the bench
Nets, 5 first round picks this year now is crazy and Terrance Mann is a solid player to pick up for nothing.
Celtics, clear salary dump and Niang is a good back up forward. They have some big holes to fill tho. No centre, no back up bigs, more wing defence … atleast they save on the cap I guess
Can see them targeting Capela.
A funny and interesting one could be Ben Simmons at PF. White Simons Brown and Simmons. Good defence, and shooter around Ben
“I can see them targeting Capela”. Yeah? I can see them targeting Horford and Kornet. Queeta and Tillman are still there as well.
Horford I think will retire. No point returning with Tatum out and no chance of a title.
Kornet he’s nice and all but think it would be a regrettable decision just like how they are now trying to move off Hauser.
Capela I think takes less and signs a 1 year 6mil/8mil deal to play for Boston, knowing he will get the bulk of the minutes, without much of a PF there aswell he should have really good rebounding and blocking numbers.
Horford is not going to retire. Kornet would obviously not make as much as Hauser.
Sorry to see either KP or Jrue go … but both leave having been Celtics NBA champs!
Definitely no regrets from anyone.
If there weren’t regrets, you wouldn’t be human.
If you believe that you and I look at life in a drastically different manner.
In principle, we should all be grateful for good fortune. If that’s what you’re saying, I agree with you.
But, psychologically, all human beings suffer with loss. If you’ve solved that problem, you should start a religion.
You know who disagrees with you?
Aristotle. Oh, the irony.
“Aristotle also says that thoroughly incorrigible people (akolastoi) are, like virtuous people, free from regret.”
But honestly dude, I’m here to talk hoops, not pick apart figurative language.
link to academic.oup.com
Aristotle’s ideas in psychology got the discussion started. You’re obviously aware that he’s empirically wrong. All humans are wired to feel the pain of loss. We can’t reason it away. Wouldn’t you find somebody pretentious who claimed they’d solved the problem of loss?
“You’re obviously aware that he’s empirically wrong.”
lmao it never ends with you. Now Aristotle is ’empirically wrong’ but you’re right. Hilarious.
There are so many frequent posters here, that already pretend to be miles ahead of mere mortals. NY and half a dozen others. You want to group yourself with them?
What causes a fan to think they are the elite 1% ?
It’s super common in nba.
Why not ignore or mute?
Because it’s funny. Your clueless bloviating is like a WFAN caller, or maybe even Francesa himself. “I gotta tell ya, Dawg, Aristotle was empirically wrong. All humans are wired to feel the pain of loss. All of them. Back afta dis”.
aristotle thinks he is far and above everybody else. To be fair he aligns and thinks he is on the same level as Davey J so there you go lmao.
A group therapy session on an nba site, wow. I used the man as a case study for my daughter about the dangers of the internet. How to spot someone who is bat bleep crazy. Do not engage, lol.
What did Bogdan do to the ATL front office to have them trade 3 second rders for Mann with him to then flip him 4 months later at a first Rd loss?
The strange road of Terance Mann continues ….Did ATl think he was Tre Mann on accident when they placed the call ?? Bizzaro, someone make it make sense …
Really lol what happened to Mann …..
Couldn’t be included in the Harden trade bc he was the next MJ. He was the Clippers version of Grimes lol. And then dealt twice.
He’s like a boat
2 happiest days are the day you buy it and the day you sell it
IMO, based on what is written or i recall. someone or multiples in ATL front office, had a very high opinion of Mann. Probably based on the past.
Then ATL found out what most other teams had already figured out.
Didn’t take long !
The bread crumb trail is just so strange
Give Brad Stevens credit for getting under the 1st apron fast and putting the painful questions to rest: they are not be trading White or Brown.
Tatum, Brown, White and Pritchard are the “bridge” to the 2026-27 season and retool fast. The big question now: how much deeper will Stevens cut? Two possible scenarios:
1. Minimal extra cutting, stay over the cap, compete for playoff spot.
– Hauser could be kept, maybe even sign Kornet to multi-year deal.
– Simons and/or Niang get dumped.
2. Cut all the way down to get under the cap, go for the lottery for 1 year (only)
– trade Hauser, don’t sign Kornet.
– Simons and Niang both dumped
The second scenario sounds painful, but it may be the best path to getting back to contention in 2026 and beyond.
Painful but possible I guess. I’m shocked how much wood they have chopped already
I’ll hedge here tho and say another deal that chops down Afernee enough so they can re-sign Kornet on a multi year deal and still stay just below apron 2 in the end
Wouldn’t be shocked if this team can still scratch 47~50 wins next year as so
Crunch, I like your idea of moving Anfernee to make room for a multi-year deal for Kornet.
I also agree that Brown, White, and Pritchard seem to guarantee that the team doesn’t fall below .500… but, if this is truly a “bridge” year and the goal is to optimize for the future, maybe Stevens wants this team to get a lottery pick?
Kinda just trying to make an Arnold Palmer outta sone lemons they were dealt w the Tatum inj
** I didn’t think it would be possible to duck the tax w/ out a chunky asset depletion .
Just the fact it’s possible today is pretty amazing- Def wouldn’t seal off that route completely where they sit today
Crunch, Stevens is executing flawlessly, but I still think it will look like “asset depletion” when the dust is settled in a month. It’s unavoidable. Just like the CBA intended.
Only 1 year ago, the Celtics had the best roster in the league. Shortly, it’ll be down to 4 guys taking $160M in payroll: Tatum, Brown, White, and Pritchard. Building a contender around that is going to take at least two years.
They’re gonna need injuries to get into the lottery. Even if they moved Simons they’re a playoff team in the east
> They’re gonna need injuries to get into the lottery.
I had thought so before seeing how deeply the Celtics are cutting, but now I believe that with only Brown, White, & Pritchard plus 11 scrubs BOS is behind:
1 CLE
2 NYK
3 ORL
4 ATL
5 DET
6 IND
7 PHI
8 MIA
9 CHI
BTW, dumping Simons will help BOS. He’s a bad player. Think Jordan Poole.
Hah, I had mocked a few scenarios that had Terence Mann going to Bklyn. Jeez, now the Nets have 5 FRPs! Honestly, in a draft like this, they can definitely find 5 players worth taking.. and they definitely need the talent infusion. That said, i’m sure the plan is to package a few of the later ones to move up. But those top 14 or 15 are not so easy to get.
Once they trade Cam Johnson and Claxton they won’t even have 5 legitimate NBA players on the roster so trying out 5 FRPs would be kinda hilarious. They’ll obviously have to consolidate or move into next year’s drafts.
They won’t take 5. Hardly anyone does that. Two separate coaching staffs.
Most teams will already have by usual 2 inexperienced players or much more. Including g league guys. Add to that 5.
That is insurmountable coaching.
It is why it is not done. Development (coaching, bad habits, culture) and also evaluation of the players and many more issues. My two cents
Porzingis should’ve been traded right after last years championship. He contributed zero to winning and these playoffs he actually detrimental to the team. If he grabs a rebound or hits a couple free throws or bunny lay ups the Celtics win those games vs the Knicks and Tatum never gets hurt.
I never understood the Boston fans obsession with him and claiming he was the X factor. He has never contributed to winning
KP won a game in the finals for the Celtics. I think Boston has some money under the second apron. We shall see.
Brad Stevens just going about his winning ways.
He’s VERY good at this job.
Brad Stevens is playing chess, the rest of the league is setting up the checker board.
He just shed the cash necessary for the Celtics to continue to compete and then rebuild, saving 100s of millions and gave up nothing. They will resign Kornet after they move Hauser and probably Horford as well.
This will be the third version of Tatum and Brown’s Celtics.
Brad is the best GM in the NBA. Watch Simmons work out for Boston and they draft a Big with the 28th pick tomorrow.
Brad has been excellent in his GM role, but I’d put him a decent 2nd to Mr. Presti …….. Presti has been doing it for a long time, with the added burden of being in a small market and miserly team owners.
A few other standout GM’s ….. Andy Elisburg, Rafael Stone etc
FWIW the Celtics can now package players to go after a big contract. Jaylen Brown+ a lot for Giannis might make sense for both teams
Stevens will put together a winning Celtics team. Brown, White, Luke, Hauser, Al, and Pritchard and whoever else sticks will play faster and shoot even more threes. Let’s see how that goes as superstar Jason & KP, while both terrific, slowed us down and made turnovers. Playing faster, like the Pacers, adding more three point shooters and hopefully making fewer turnovers should make next season exciting! Go Celtics!
Mama there goes 👋👋 there goes that Mann …….
AGAIN
KP was a solid piece for Celtics. When he played they were tough to beat. Just good chemistry really. And even on D. As a backside defender. He helped control the box. Unfortunately he is always going to miss games. So do you really need him. Especially a premium price. He can help Hawks. Can share the floor with Okongwu. What did I tell you Hawks Homer ……….
Celtics at least are still staying competitive. Not giving up till they move Jalen ….
Looks good for Knicks and Al coming to NYC ….
Those Celtics oicks are solid picks. This is a deep first rd into top 10 of second rd.
On paper a good deal but Trae isn’t gonna enjoy porzingis’ style of soft pick, and pop only. Hawks need a lob threat who sets good screens. Someone like capela used to be.
I like the deal for BOS and ATL.
BKN-? Not really. Yes, they had a ton of cap space, and still have most of it. But I felt (and still feel) there would be an almost unlimited number of opportunities to sell it for draft capital. On its own, selling 15 mm of it for a FRP at #22 would normally be considered a very good deal. But Mann’s 2 additional years flip that into the lower return category, even though he’s not exactly dead money. I also don’t like that it’s the 5th FRP in this draft with 4 of then clustered in the lower part of the draft order. We’ll see what they do (trades) with all of these picks, in terms of getting value for each. Not always easy.
I think they trade up for another lottery pick.
That would be great for them. But they gotta find a dance partner. Many want to trade up, few want to trade down.
Paging Sankara
Before this trade I thought the Hawks were positioned to make some noise. Now I’m sure of it. Young, Daniels, Rissacher, Johnson, Porzingis looks like a top-4 squad in the depleted East.
I would agree about ATL, in a vacuum.
It’s also Okongwu with those 5.
For me, in ATL, The culture there and the FO, brings things back down to reality.
until ATL actually does anything on the court beyond average, it’s hard to push your chips in on a team that seems satisfied to squeeze into playoffs, never have an average backup pg ever. Little things
Yes, Okongwu and LeVert are solid off the bench too. Okongwu can play next to Porzingis. Yeah, the org ain’t the greatest but that’s still enough talent to win a playoff series in this conference
“in the depleted East”
This is key. A lot of East teams this year with injuries or uncertainty. That’s why I think the Magic are going for it and why the Hawks are pushing. Maybe Detroit will, too?
Boston – no Tatum
Milwaukee – no Lillard
Indiana – no Haliburton
Knicks – new coach
Cleveland – had some injuries at the end of the year, may need to make a salary-related trade
Could be year one of Atlanta, Detroit, or Orlando squeak through.
Brown is going to sign elsewhere when he’s contract is up. They wanted to trade him a while back and that left a bad taste in his mouth. So Celts are done. Congrats to ATL, if KP stays healthy it’s an extra bonus. League needs a good Hawk team.
Right basil….pretty sure giving Jaylen $350 odd mil showed otherwise and how many years under contract? Stevens is the man now not Ainge.
What’re the nets giving up ?
Just absorbing mann money into their cap space ? Not even having to send out a token second rounder ??
Number 22 pick for Brooklyn? That’s a very good deal for them. Almost too good.
Washington have been absorbing contracts recently and have left themselves with a lot less cap than Brooklyn, and yet they are only getting 2nd rounders. And with some trades, like when they took Smart, they got absolutely no picks at all.
Yaaaaaaaaaaay Hawks!!!! They did something! The future is looking brighter and brighter 🙂 go Hawks!
BOS swapped an all-star for a bench player… some around here said that they would get positive value for him… clearly they not only got nothing but they are a much worse team for it. Only good thing is they saving $, but that’s not helping to compete, right?