Could the Celtics Move on from Kristaps Porzingis? New Ownership Faces a Tough Call
The Boston Celtics are soaring, but as the franchise transitions to new ownership, an important financial decision looms: Should the team move on from Kristaps Porzingis to save money?
The question comes on the heels of the Grousbeck family’s record $6.1 billion sale of their controlling interest in the franchise to an ownership group led by private equity investor Bill Chisholm. While Chisholm has hinted at plans for the roster, the future of Porzingis remains uncertain.
The Highs and Lows of Porzingis
When he’s on the floor, Porzingis still flashes the elite talent that earned him the “Unicorn” nickname from Kevin Durant during his time with the New York Knicks. A prime example came in Boston’s recent 121-99 rout of the Utah Jazz, where the 7-foot-2 big man posted 27 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in just 25 minutes.
However, availability has been a persistent issue for Porzingis. He has suited up for just 35 games this season and, at most, will appear in 47 by season’s end. His injury concerns date back years—he played in only 57 regular-season games during Boston’s 2023-24 championship run before getting hurt early in the playoffs. The Celtics survived without him, with veteran Al Horford stepping up in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
Since the 2017-18 season, Porzingis has topped 60 games only once, when he appeared in 65 games with the Washington Wizards in 2022-23.
The Cost Factor
On top of his injury history, Porzingis carries a hefty price tag. The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $60 million extension upon arriving in Boston via trade in 2023. He’s owed $30.7 million for the 2025-26 season, which could be a tough pill to swallow for a Celtics team projected to face around $500 million in combined salary and luxury tax payments.
The Trade Rumors
Zach Harper of The Athletic speculates that Porzingis or Jrue Holiday could be salary cap casualties as the new ownership group takes over.
“It wouldn’t be shocking to see Kristaps Porzingis go soon, as he has one year left on his deal,” Harper wrote.
A potential Holiday trade could also help Boston avoid the NBA’s restrictive second luxury tax apron and free up room to retain Horford or backup center Luke Kornet, both of whom will hit free agency this summer.
The Dilemma
When healthy, Porzingis has been a key piece for the Celtics, averaging 19.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game on impressive .486/.396/.817 shooting splits. But his durability issues raise legitimate concerns.
Boston has a championship-caliber roster, but financial realities might force difficult decisions. If new ownership prioritizes financial flexibility, Porzingis could be the odd man out. Whether the Celtics pull the trigger on a trade or stick with their high-risk, high-reward center remains one of the biggest storylines to watch heading into the offseason.
