5 Moves Celtics should make after Kristaps Porzingis trade

4. Trade Williams or Horford

Kristaps Porzingis played 32.6 minutes per game last season and all of those came at the center position. It is where he is best suited because it allows KP to protect the rim and patrol the paint, despite his preference to play the four.

If Porzingis is playing 33 minutes per game at the five, the Celtics do not have enough minutes for Al Horford and Robert Williams. They could run more two big-man lineups, but Boston does not want to go exclusively to that look. Jayson Tatum will see minutes at the four, and the Celtics want the versatility to go small.

Both Horford and Williams are on value contracts, but the Celtics cannot afford to pay $57.5 million to centers next season. They should explore the market for both and trade the one that fetches the best return.

Horford is 37 years old, so he could be the player that gets moved, especially if Boston goes into the second tax apron. That would limit the transactions they can make and virtually lock in their roster with an aging Horford that could decline at any moment.

Williams figures to have more value and could fetch a sizable return on the market.

Kristaps Porzingis will be the Celtics’ primary option at the five, so they should try to move on from one of their other big men if they want to have a deep and versatile roster for the 2024 playoffs.