SUMMARY
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Kristaps Porzingis reportedly is headed to the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade.
The late twist Wednesday night, though, was that the deal will send guard Marcus Smart from Boston to the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN and The Athletic.
The Washington Wizards, the team shipping out Porzingis, reportedly will acquire guard Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies and a second-round pick (35th overall) in Thursday’s draft from the Celtics.
Memphis is sending first-round picks in this year’s draft (No. 25 overall) and next year’s draft to Boston, per the reports.
ESPN added that Porzingis, a 7-foot-3 forward/center, is opting into the $36 million player option on his contract for the upcoming season.
Washington is also acquiring Celtics forward Danilo Gallinari and center Mike Muscala in the deal, according to ESPN’s report.
Earlier deal collapsed
An earlier three-way trade involving the Celtics, Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers fell through earlier Wednesday night, according to multiple media reports.
In that scenario, Porzingis was to go to Boston with Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon relocating to LA, while Clippers forward Marcus Morris and draft picks would have gone to the Wizards.
ESPN added that Los Angeles would have sent Amir Coffey to Washington, which also would have received Danilo Gallinari from Boston.
According to The Stein Line and The Athletic, the three-team deal collapsed due to the Clippers’ concern about Brogdon’s health. Brogdon played through a torn tendon in his right arm during the Celtics’ playoff run.
The Wizards reportedly are looking for a new home for point guard Chris Paul, who was acquired in the Bradley Beal trade from Phoenix earlier this week.
ESPN and Yahoo reported the Celtics were also kicking the tires on a trade for Suns center Deandre Ayton.
Washington reportedly had re-engaged Porzingis about a new contract before the looming deadline for his 2023-2024 player option, after the sides set the groundwork toward a four-year, $180 million extension in March.
Porzingis, drafted by the New York Knicks in 2015, was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 and then acquired in February 2022 by the Wizards.
Defensive Player of the Year
Porzingis, who turns 28 in August, averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game last season.
Smart, 29, was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2021-2022, and he is a three-time All-Defensive Team selection. Last season, he averaged 11.5 points, a career-high 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 61 games.
Over nine NBA seasons, all with the Celtics, he has career averages of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals.
Brogdon, 30, played exclusively off the bench in Boston in 2022-2023 and averaged 14.9 points and 3.7 assists per game.
Jones, 27, played the past four seasons with the Grizzlies after starting his NBA career by playing four years with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He put up career highs across the board last season with 10.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game.
Morris, 33, averaged 11.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game with the Clippers last season and is owed $17.1 million next season.
Coffey, 26, averaged 3.4 points in 50 games (nine starts) last season, while Gallinari, 34, missed the entire 2022-23 campaign due to a torn ACL.
Muscala, 31, split last season between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Celtics, averaging 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 63 games (nine starts). – Rappler.com
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