Boston Celtics: 3 players from recently eliminated teams Cs should pursue

Boston Celtics trade target #2: Kristaps Porzingis

The first chance to land Kristaps Porzingis in a trade came to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2017. New York Knicks fans would have likely revolted had then-President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson actually pulled the trigger on sending away his seven-foot-three stretch big capable of hammering dunks and swatting shots into the stands to ex-GM Danny Ainge’s outfit, one that had just reached the Eastern Conference finals.

Instead, the Knicks replaced Jackson with an ownership group that traded Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. for what NY fans thought at the time was pennies on the dollar. Never a region to not be overcome with emotion and think things through fully before reacting, there was still a revolt in the Empire State after Porzingis was dealt.

Now, there is a level of vindication for fans of the orange and blue after he flamed out in the postseason. Worse yet, Porzingis is frustrated with his position on the totem pole behind Luka Doncic, and expressed as much following Dallas’ Game 7 blowout loss to the LA Clippers:

"“I try to keep it simple for myself, so I’m not overthinking, and I try to focus on what I can control. That’s being a better basketball player, going into the offseason hungry. I want to get better physically [and] on the basketball court. I’m going to put that work in to get better, and then the rest of the stuff will resolve itself.”"

Porzingis seems like a star on the outs with his current team, and another move could be what’s best for his career. Enter the Boston Celtics.

The Cs need a more consistent big than Tristan Thompson and need another body to occupy the floor when Robert Williams is nursing injuries, as he’s been proven to not be extremely durable in his first three seasons.

Once more, Kemba Walker would be the bait here, and Marcus Smart may be needed to get something done as well.

But Porzingis as the third wheel behind the Jays gives the Cs a tri-headed monster of 25-and-under stars to build around going forward.