Celtics turn to plan B, move Marcus Smart for Porzingis

The Boston Celtics have reportedly acquired Kristaps Porzingis in exchange for a package centered around Marcus Smart. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Memphis Grizzlies have stepped in as the third team. 

Karalis’ take: 

FINAL UPDATE (11:58 p.m.):

This took a dramatic turn. 

The final deal is: 

Boston gets: Kristaps Porzingis, Memphis 2023 first round pick, 2024 first round pick via Golden State. 

Washington gets: Galinari, Muscala, 2023 35th overall pick from Boston, Tyus Jones from Memphis.

Memphis gets: Marcus Smart

On the one hand, Smart, Gallo, Muscala, and a second rounder for Porzingis and two first round picks is a pretty good value trade. The Celtics are now going to pivot to Derrick White as the presumed starter with Brogdon now apparently sticking around and coming off the bench. 

On the other, I didn't want to move Smart, and doing so comes as a bit of a surprise. Clearly that was not Boston's initial intention, and also, clearly, they valued Smart much higher because they ended up snagging two first round picks for him. 

It's a little discouraging that Brogdon's injury was bad enough to nix the trade and now he's going to be part of the plan moving forward. Hopefully that's a misstep on the Clippers' part and he comes to camp healthy. 

Full thoughts on this deal coming up in a separate piece. 

______________

MASSIVE UPDATE (10:29 p.m.): 

Okay, not great. This floored me, but then Woj followed it up: 

So the 3-team deal seems to be dead. Washington and Boston are still trying to salvage something here, maybe with a different third team. Why did this deal fall apart? 

This does not sound great. How bad is the injury to Brogdon's arm? What's the prognosis there? If the Clippers are too concerned about someone's injury, that has to be a bad one. 

We're now a little more than an hour from the deadline for Porzingis to opt in or out. This deal has an expiration date. 

______________

UPDATE (8:33 p.m.): Still no official word. It's possible this trade will end up being part of the Bradley Beal trade. Right now that deal is between Phoenix and Washington, but the Celtics and Clippers can be folded into the deal as well. 

There is a time crunch to all of this. Porzingis has to opt into his deal by midnight for it to work. If he doesn't, then it's impossible to acquire him. 

For now, I'm treating this like it's just a procedural delay to make sure other dominoes can be put in place.

______________

UPDATE (5:37 p.m.): 

If this trade means Boston is moving on from Grant Williams, then I'm basically considering it Malcom Brogdon, Danilo Gallinari, and Grant Williams for Porzingis. It still can work out in Boston's favor, it's just a different frontcourt configuration. 

Maybe this lends some credence to Joe Mazzulla just being out on Grant Williams. I like Williams, and think he can be a contributor to a championship team. I have also said that Williams seemed like a guy who will play for five teams in 14 seasons, so maybe the four seasons in Boston was just where he was maxing out. 

As you'll see if you keep reading past this update, I'm a bit surprised that this includes an extension. I guess that doesn't make him un-tradeable, but I thought the Celtics offseason was going to focus on saving money, not spending it on a big-name guy. I wouldn't call Porzingis part of a Big 3 or anything like that, but he averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He's a star player. 

______________

So at this point, the Celtics are accomplishing two things: They're fixing their guard/big balance and they're creating a big salary savings after next season. 

By doing this before the end of June, the Celtics can operate in the 125% salary matching territory because they're still technically working under the old CBA. Porzingis can opt in to his $36 million option, Boston sends out Brogdon and either Danilo Gallinari or some combination that works out to be about $5 million in salary. 

Brogdon would go to the Clippers (which, by the way, eliminates a Chris Paul destination), the Wizards get a potentially tradeable player, Boston gets Porzingis on a one-year, $36 million deal that increases their payroll in the short term, but will certainly come off the books next summer. 

While I’m personally not the biggest Porzingis fan, he is 7’3” and he shot 38.5% from 3 last year. He had one of his best seasons in the NBA and he’ll only be 28 when next season starts. His length and shooting ability would give Boston some more varied offensive options as a standalone center or with either Robert Williams or Al Horford on the floor with him. 

It would also allow Horford to take a step back to the bench and prepare himself for a minimized regular season role and, perhaps, an expanded role in the playoffs. 

There are certainly injury concerns with Porzingis, but with Williams and Horford on the roster, as well as the possible return of Grant Williams, Boston’s frontcourt might be able to divvy up the minutes in a way that takes the strain off everyone. 

Ultimately, Boston took a bunch of spare parts and turned them into Brogdon. They will now apparently flip Brogdon and potentially Gallinari, who never dressed for Boston, into one year of a very unique big man with shooting touch. 

And on the plus side for Porzingis, he gets a year off from being defended by Marcus Smart. 

Financially, his $36 million coming off the books next summer gives the Celtics some breathing room once Jaylen Brown's new deal kicks in. If he helps Boston win a title in the process, then great.