Boston Celtics fans who are hoping to see the team reunite with Kristaps Porzingis this offseason may have to keep dreaming. Porzingis, who Boston traded to the Atlanta Hawks last June as part of their scheme to avoid the second apron, finished the season with the Golden State Warriors, and is now set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Celtics have about $15 million to spend with their non-taxpayer mid-level exception, so it’s financially feasible that they could bring KP back to town. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that they’ll have the opportunity to do so.
According to NBA Insider Jake Fischer, Golden State is hopeful that they’ll be able to retain the Latvian big man on a team-friendly deal this summer.
“The Warriors are hopeful they can re-sign Porzingis on more of a cap-friendly deal after absorbing his $30.7 million expiring contract from Atlanta on Deadline Day in February," Fischer wrote.
The 30-year-old enjoyed his time with the Dubs, by all accounts, but made it clear that he’d test the waters this summer.
Porzingis appeared in 15 games for the Warriors after his February arrival. He wasn’t quite the player either side would’ve hoped he’d be, posting 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per outing while shooting 43.3% from the field and 31.1% from beyond the arc.
Nonetheless, there’s hope in The Bay that KP will be able to contribute more consistently after a full offseason.
How wise is it for the Celtics to persue Kristaps Porzingis?
If he were to sign on a team-friendly contract, it’d be a far less-risky move for Golden State -- or any other team. As Celtics fans know plenty well, the ceiling with Porzingis is exceptional. When he was healthy for Boston, the team was at an entirely different level than they were without him.
That is, of course, why so many fans have hope that he’d return.
Especially with Nikola Vucevic’s looming exit, adding Porzingis as a bench option would theoretically serve as a pseudo-solution to the Celtics’ frontcourt depth issues. Neither Vucevic nor Luka Garza were able to give Boston enough of a jolt when Neemias Queta found himself in foul trouble during the playoffs, and it hurt them.
Now, Porzingis has only played a combined 74 games over his past two seasons while battling both injury and illness. His presence is unreliable, to say the very least. Boston, Golden State, or any other team would be wise to be weary of that when negotiating with him.
With that being said, there’s an argument to be made that a financial sweet spot exists where the risk is worth the reward. The challenge is just to find it -- and also get KP to buy into said pricetag.
Add us as a preferred source on Google