Basketball is a business of cold, hard math. We all saw the Boston Celtics lift the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2024, and it felt like the start of a dynasty. But then the second apron of the luxury tax came knocking, and everything changed. The move where the Celtics trade Porzingis to Hawks wasn't just some random mid-summer roster shakeup; it was a desperate financial pivot that has defined the 2025-26 NBA season.
Honestly, if you're a Celtics fan, it probably still stings.
Why the Unicorn Left Boston
The deal happened back in June 2025. It was a three-team complicated mess involving the Brooklyn Nets, but the core of it was simple: Kristaps Porzingis headed to Atlanta. In exchange, Boston got Georges Niang, a 2031 second-round pick from Cleveland, and some cash.
That’s it.
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Fans were livid. "We traded a 7-foot-2 floor spacer for Niang and a pick that won't convey until today's toddlers are in high school?" That was the sentiment. But Brad Stevens was playing a different game. With Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury casting a massive shadow over the 2025-26 campaign, the Celtics knew they weren't winning a title this year.
They had to shed money.
The new CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) is a monster. It punishes teams for spending too much by "freezing" their draft picks and making it nearly impossible to sign free agents. By moving Porzingis' $30.7 million salary, Boston basically bought themselves a future. It was a "save the franchise" move, even if it felt like a "punt the season" move at the time.
The Hawks Experiment: A Rocky Road
Atlanta didn't just take Porzingis for fun. They were desperate to find a pairing for Trae Young before things soured. For about three games, it looked... okay. Porzingis offered the kind of rim protection and vertical spacing that Clint Capela simply couldn't provide in a modern offense.
Then the reality of KP's health hit.
By January 2026, the experiment had basically imploded. Porzingis has struggled with a laundry list of issues, most notably a lingering case of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and more recently, left Achilles tendinitis. As of mid-January 2026, he’s only suited up for 17 of Atlanta's 41 games.
It’s tough.
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The Hawks eventually realized the timeline didn't fit. Just days ago, they pulled the trigger on a blockbuster to send Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Now, the Hawks are left with an aging, injury-prone "Unicorn" on an expiring contract while they pivot toward a rebuild around Zaccharie Risacher and Onyeka Okongwu.
What This Means for the 2026 Trade Deadline
We are currently sitting in the thick of trade season. February 5th is the deadline, and Porzingis is the name on everyone’s lips again. Hawks GM Onsi Saleh has been playing it cool in the media, saying there’s "no quick fix," but everyone knows the score.
Porzingis is an expiring $30 million asset.
There are rumors that the Hawks might try to flip him to a contender looking for one last push. There’s even been wild chatter about a swap involving Anthony Davis, though the math there is a nightmare. Contenders like the Mavericks or even a reunion-hungry team might look at KP’s 17.1 points per game and think, "We can keep him healthy for two months."
The Current Stats (2025-26 Season)
- Games Played: 17
- Points: 17.1 per game
- Rebounds: 5.1 per game
- Blocks: 1.3 per game
- Shooting: 45.7% FG / 36.0% 3PT
He’s still productive when he’s on the floor. That’s the "Porzingis Paradox." He’s always good enough to make you want him, but never healthy enough to make you keep him.
The Celtics' Surprising Pivot
Surprisingly, Boston hasn't fallen off a cliff. While the Celtics trade Porzingis to Hawks was a cost-cutting measure, it allowed Neemias Queta to step into a massive role. Queta has been a revelation. Boston is currently exceeding expectations, hovering near the top of the East despite the lack of "star" depth in the frontcourt.
They’re still looking for help, though.
Reports from Marc Stein and others suggest Boston is eyeing Daniel Gafford from the Mavericks. It’s funny, isn't it? They traded a superstar big man to save money, and now they’re using that financial flexibility to hunt for a high-end role player to stabilize the defense.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the fallout of this trade, keep your eyes on these three things over the next three weeks:
- The Porzingis Medical Reports: If KP returns from his Achilles tendinitis before February 1st and plays 25+ minutes, his trade value skyrockets. If he stays sidelined, he might just walk for nothing in free agency this summer.
- The "Second Apron" Watch: Watch how Boston handles the deadline. If they stay under the tax threshold, they can aggregate salaries in a trade again, making a move for someone like Gafford much easier.
- Atlanta's Fire Sale: With Trae Young gone, nobody on the Hawks roster is "safe." Look for them to prioritize 2026 and 2027 draft capital over win-now players.
The Porzingis-to-Atlanta era will likely be remembered as a short, strange bridge between two different versions of the Hawks. For Boston, it was the painful sacrifice required to keep the Tatum-Brown core together for the next five years. It wasn't pretty, and it definitely wasn't fun for the fans, but in the new NBA, it's the price of doing business.