The Kristaps Porzingis trade that was canceled due to the Los Angeles Clippers reportedly having issues with Malcolm Brogdon’s medical concerns is back on again. Only, this time, the Clips aren’t involved.
However, Marcus Smart, and the Memphis Grizzlies, are involved in the late-night NBA blockbuster on the eve of the 2023 NBA Draft.
This time, the trade is complete, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, and the details are a lot different than what was originally reported, with many notable names included.
- Boston Celtics trade: Marcus Smart
- Boston Celtics receive: Kristaps Porzingis, 25th overall pick + 2024 first-round pick (via GS)
- Memphis Grizzlies trade: Tyus Jones, 25th overall pick + 2024 first-round pick (via GS)
- Memphis Grizzlies receive: Marcus Smart
- Washington Wizards trade: Kristaps Porzingis
- Washington Wizards receive: Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, 35th pick
Part of the reason this trade was so fast-moving was that Porzingis was facing a dealing of midnight ET on his $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season, the final year of his contract. Now that he’s been moved to a competitive situation in Boston, Porzingis is opting into his contract instead of hitting the open market on June 30.
The Celtics still get their prized target, adding the 7-foot-3 Porzingis who clearly adds more size, but also a scoring punch inside and along the perimeter and is a clear upgrade over pending free agent Grant Williams.
But we also see the Grizzlies dish out backup point guard Tyus Jones who became a key contributor while the team was overcoming the absence of Ja Morant, whether for injury or other reasons. Now with Morant set to miss the first 25 games due to suspension, the need for another ballhandler in Grizzlies has increased. Yet, landing Smart gives them a former Defensive Player of the Year who can immediately replace Dillon Brooks as a two-way guard.
Meanwhile, the return for the Wizards doesn’t quite look right on paper. Danilo Gallinari is a proven sharpshooter, but he’s also set to turn 35 in August. But this is another cap-saving move aimed at diving deeper into a rebuild in Washington. Yet being that Porzingis was just set to opt out anyway, getting anything at all is a bonus. Their biggest asset here is the 35th pick, helping bring in more youth with the potential to develop into a contributor.