The Boston Celtics traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks because he struggles to stay healthy and play like a superstar. Atlanta is quickly realizing the injuries are a problem, and his play is suffering. Porzingis has missed the last three games with a right knee soreness and has played in just nine of the team's first 15. That trend won’t stop anytime soon.
The Unicorn has played more than 57 games in a season just once since 2017. At best, fans can expect him to miss 25 games each year, and Celtics fans know his absences can linger. The Hawks are playing well without him, but nobody can replace what Porzingis does. Having a 7’2 big man capable of shooting from the logo and protecting the rim is a luxury. Sadly, even KP’s production has dipped.
He is averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 blocks in a career-low 25.8 minutes per game so far this season. Those numbers seem strong, but the production has dipped since the injuries started. This could be an extremely concerning trend for the Hawks that the Celtics know all too well.
Kristaps Porzingis is declining rapidly and can't stay on the floor
Over his last seven games, Porzingis averaged 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks, but shot just 38.8 percent from the field and 21.9 percent from 3-point range, while playing just under 26 minutes each night. He missed four games during that stretch and did not look good.
It is similar to what Boston saw from The Unicorn in the 2025 playoffs. He was later diagnosed with POTS. The illness crushed his production, but it may have just been the start of him remaining inconsistent as he declines.
The Hawks gave up Georges Niang, Terance Mann, the 22nd pick in the 2025 draft, and a 2031 second-rounder in a three-team trade to get KP. They clearly believed a turnaround was coming, but they landed a 30-year-old big man who struggles to stay healthy and is inconsistent.
Blame the injuries if you wish. Porzingis is struggling to produce for a Hawks team that has their eyes on competing in the wide-open Eastern Conference. They need to get him healthy and have him firing on all cylinders in the playoffs. That won’t be easy, especially with his recent decline.
Celtics fans are not surprised by any of this. He played under 30 minutes per game in his two seasons in Boston and appeared in just 99 contests. Porzingis helped the Celtics win a championship, but he dealt with the struggles and couldn't stay on the floor. The Hawks are suffering the same fate.
So far, it hasn’t hurt Atlanta. They are 4-2 without Porzingis and just 5-4 with him. The Hawks would love to have his floor spacing and rim protection, but Onyeka Okongwu has been outstanding to start the year. They are lucky to have him as the KP rollercoaster isn’t stopping.
The Boston Celtics had financial motives when trading Kristaps Porzingis, but his issues were well-documented. Jayson Tatum’s injury made the decision easier. It was time to move on from KP and retool for another championship window when Tatum returns. Porzingis is making Boston’s decision look wise, and fans know this story isn’t changing.