The Boston Celtics made one of the shrewdest salary decisions of the offseason when they shipped Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. What looked like a simple salary dump at the time has aged exceptionally well — and one glaring statistic underscores just how correct the Celtics were.
Porzingis was moved alongside his hefty contract for a second-round pick and Georges Niang, who was subsequently traded again just one month later. Boston’s motivation was twofold: they could no longer trust the 7’2 Latvian to stay healthy, and they needed to avoid the punitive second apron with Jayson Tatum sidelined early in the season.
The move was quickly validated. Porzingis appeared in just 32 games for the Hawks before being traded to the Golden State Warriors at the deadline. In San Francisco, he continued to struggle with availability and consistency, ultimately playing a career-low 24.0 minutes per game. His body, once again, became the biggest story.
Since 2018 — excluding the full 2018-19 season he missed recovering from a torn ACL — Porzingis has averaged just 49.4 games per year. The injury concerns have only intensified. Mysterious illnesses and recurring leg issues have left teams wondering how many nights they can realistically count on him. At 30 years old, the “Unicorn” tag now carries more risk than reward.
The numbers tell a brutal story.
In his 32 games this season, Porzingis averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks in limited minutes. By comparison, Celtics backup center Neemias Queta — who played significantly more games — delivered superior production simply by being available. Queta appeared in 76 games, outscoring Porzingis by 243 total points, recording 100 blocks to KP’s 38, and grabbing 636 rebounds to Porzingis’ 167.
Availability is the ultimate skill. While Porzingis showed flashes, including an outstanding performance in the Play-In Tournament, he faded quickly thereafter. The Warriors, despite acquiring him midseason in a deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta, failed to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Celtics, after a first-round exit, avoided the daily uncertainty that came with managing the big man’s health.
Porzingis earned $30.7 million this season — nearly $1 million per game played. That kind of production-to-cost ratio made his situation unsustainable for a contending team like Boston.
The Celtics’ decision to move on from Porzingis wasn’t made in isolation. They also traded Jrue Holiday in the offseason, allowed Al Horford and Luke Kornet to walk in free agency, and made additional moves at the deadline to completely dodge the luxury tax. It was a deliberate dismantling of the title-winning roster, orchestrated by Brad Stevens to regain financial flexibility and retool around Jayson Tatum.
As Porzingis heads into free agency, his future remains highly uncertain. He has played more than 57 regular-season games just once since 2017. Any team signing him must do so with eyes wide open, understanding they are acquiring a high-upside talent who will miss significant time.
The Celtics were forced into a salary dump, but in hindsight, it was the smart move. They shed both the massive contract and the accompanying headache. While Porzingis will always have suitors convinced he’s their missing piece, Boston proved they were better off without the drama.
Now the pressure shifts back to the front office. With added flexibility, Stevens and the Celtics are expected to be active this summer as they look to rebuild contention around Tatum. For once, the franchise can move forward without wondering when — or if — their stretch five will be on the floor.