Brad Stevens Shares What Compelled Celtics to Trade for Kristaps Porzingis

In bringing in Kristaps Porzingis and trading Marcus Smart to Memphis, the Celtics are making three significant gambles.

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

In trading for Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics are making three significant gambles. These intertwined wagers are a parlay of sorts.

While Boston now has questions in the backcourt and surely hasn't finished building its roster before July 1, acquiring a highly-skilled seven-foot-three two-way center who's a former All-Star represents an upgrade in talent.

Porzingis averaged a career-high 23.2 points, grabbed 8.4 rebounds, and dished out 2.7 assists in 32.6 minutes per game last season.

He also nearly made it into the elusive 50/40/90 club. The former fourth-overall pick shot 49.8 percent from the field, drilled 38.5 percent of his 5.5 three-point attempts, and converted on 85.1 percent of his 6.4 free throws.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Furthermore, according to NBA.com, he knocked down 39.3 percent of his 4.7 catch-and-shoot three-point attempts last season. Outside of his rookie campaign and struggles in his 34 games with the Mavericks in 2021-22, the Latvian native has capitalized on at least 36 percent of such opportunities throughout his career. That's encouraging since most of his shots with the Celtics will be of that nature.

The seven-foot-three center's also an effective low-post option, and he's evolved into a player who does a much better job punishing switches, including from the mid-post.

He can operate alongside Al Horford in a gigantic five-out lineup or space the floor while playing with Robert Williams. Porzingis, a disruptive defender in drop coverage, will also work well with either of Boston's big men defensively.

On the heels of acquiring Jordan Walsh and a bevy of future second-round picks at the draft, Celtics' president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, conveyed the following about the team's new starting center.

Brad Stevens on Kristaps Porzingis: "He can play with any combination of our players... he brings a lot to our team" pic.twitter.com/xL17naBYfW

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 23, 2023

"Kristaps can play with any combination of our players. He can play with Rob; he can play with Al; he can play as a standalone five. He has just gotten better and better and better. And you see what he was doing this year, and I thought in the games that we played against him and in the games that I watched with the most intent against other teams, I thought he just had really taken another step too.

"He brings a lot to our team. You can envision, or I can envision, some of the lineups we can put out there size-wise right now. (It's) pretty intriguing. And not without dropping any skill at all. So, that's a good thing.

"He was already good, but he just took another step. And he can play defensively the way we want to. He's a deterrent at the rim. And he's a super-skilled basketball player. We didn't post a ton this year, but to be able to throw the ball in the post and just shoot over a switch and do it so efficiently and effectively is a big deal. Let alone be able to play behind the line, shoot the ball, or drive it or those types of things."

Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

But for Porzingis to prove the piece that puts the Celtics over the top in their quest for Banner 18, he, of course, has to stay healthy. That's not a safe bet considering his size and history of lower-body injuries, including an ACL tear.

Boston's hoping the trio of him, Horford, and Williams will help pace and preserve each other so that they're at their best in the playoffs. It's a reasonable gamble.

But in trading Marcus Smart, a decision Stevens got choked up while discussing, the Celtics are trading the heart and soul of their team and a culture setter.

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

When their now former floor general arrived in Boston, the franchise was early in its rebuild and starting its next chapter after its modern big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen delivered Banner 17, then ran their course.

The Celtics were coming off a 25-57 campaign. Yet they made the playoffs in Smart's rookie season and never missed it in his nine years in Boston. That includes five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and coming within two wins of a title.

What the Celtics are sacrificing in this deal is significant and might prove more valuable than talent. Frankly, this team already lacks fire breathers and instigators. Losing someone who brought that to the table to the extent Smart did and had a knack for converting that into winning plays is difficult to replace and a common trait shared by championship teams.

The organization could acquire a veteran role player who, to some degree, provides those characteristics. Their version of P.J. Tucker, if you will. But this is also a challenge to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Al Horford's the respected elder statesman, and Malcolm Brogdon, nicknamed "the president," will speak his mind when he feels it's necessary. But the void in leadership created by Smart's departure is largely expected to get filled by the Celtics' All-NBA wings.

When the team is flat, fails to hit first, or doesn't strike back, that falls even more on the shoulders of Tatum and Brown. No one else will get mentioned when that happens.

Lighting a fire under that rope could propel them to grow as leaders or feed into why the duo's already reached its ceiling.

Further Reading

Brad Stevens Discusses Difficult Decision to Trade Marcus Smart: 'He'll Always Have Boston'

Scouting Report on Celtics' Second-Round Pick Jordan Walsh

Celtics Swing 4 Draft-Day Trades, Add Future Second-Round Capital

After Trading Marcus Smart, Acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, Where Do Celtics Go from Here?

Marcus Smart Felt "Shock" and "Hurt" Over Trade from Boston Celtics

The Latest on Malcolm Brogdon's Forearm Strain

Celtics Acquire Kristaps Porzingis, Trade Marcus Smart to Grizzlies in Blockbuster Deal

Grant Williams Not Expected Back If Celtics Acquire Kristaps Porzingis

Marcus Smart Discusses Celtics' Identity, Relationship with Jaylen Brown, Boston's Coaching Hires, and Pursuit of Banner 18

Celtics Add Former Teammate of Jayson Tatum to Coaching Staff