The Boston Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in a salary dump last summer. That deal has looked wise ever since. KP was limited to just 32 games by injury and illness. The Hawks traded him to Golden State at the deadline for Jonathan Kuminga. The only other thing Atlanta got in return from Boston was the 57th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. They used it and cash to trade up for Henri Veesar. The seven-footer’s ceiling is becoming a stretch big man capable of protecting the rim like Porzingis.
The Celtics were proven right long ago. KP averaged his fewest minutes per game and shot just 33.8 percent from 3-point range this season. He struggles to stay on the floor, and didn’t fit in Atlanta. The Hawks are still clearly trying to fill that role by drafting Veesaar.
The Celtics trimmed payroll last summer to avoid the second apron. They traded Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Boston let Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk in free agency. There was pain in breaking up the championship team, but they have no regrets about this trade.
Hawks still searching for Kristaps Porzingis a year after Celtics trade
The Celtics didn’t want to pay Porzingis $30.7 million last season. His questionable availability was the primary reason. Having a 7’2 big man that protects the rim and spaces the floor is a massive advantage. The Hawks saw the value and were happy to pay a small price to acquire him.
Here is a look at the full details of this trade after the 57th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Celtics received: Georges Niang, 2031 2nd round pick, and cash
Hawks acquired: Kristaps Porzingis and Narcisse Ngoy
Nets got: Terance Mann and Drake Powell
Niang never played for the Celtics. They traded him to the Jazz just one month later to save even more money. It cost Brad Stevens two second-round draft picks, but that was a small price to pay to save millions.
KP is set to be a free agent, but fans shouldn’t expect him back. The Unicorn will want a significant payday, and the Celtics are still battling financial issues. Porzingis’ upside is too tantalizing to prevent some team from paying him the non-taxpayer mid-level exception or more.
The Celtics won this trade already. They dumped Porzingis' contract on the Hawks for Niang and a second-round pick that is bound to be higher than 57th overall. It cost two more second-rounders to get off Niang, but Boston cut over $30 million from their payroll.
The Hawks hope Veesaar becomes Porzingis. There was plenty of interest in the stretch big man, so Atlanta leapfrogged the Lakers and Knicks to acquire him. They weren’t missing out on a stretch big man with a versatile game after the KP experiment failed. It cost them some cash to move up five spots to get the former North Carolina Tar Heel.
The Boston Celtics were further proven right by trading Kristaps Porzingis because the team that acquired him is still searching for exactly what the big man provides. Boston has questions at the five, but they don’t regret moving on from KP. Hopefully, the Unicorn has better health moving forward. Only time will tell.
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