Former Boston Celtics champion Kevin Garnett has issued a passionate plea to the team’s front office, urging them to retain star center Kristaps Porzingis as the franchise braces for a potentially transformative offseason. With the Celtics facing significant financial and roster challenges, Garnett’s outspoken support for Porzingis underscores the critical decisions looming for the team.
The Celtics are grappling with a major setback: six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season due to a devastating Achilles tendon tear sustained during the second round of the playoffs. Adding to the complexity, Boston is projected to field the most expensive roster in NBA history, driven by the league’s stringent new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) policies. The team’s current financial commitments, excluding potential re-signings, stand at $231.5 million in salaries, which would trigger a staggering $270.6 million in repeater luxury taxes, resulting in a total payroll of $502 million.
Two key players, reserve centers Al Horford and Luke Kornet, are unrestricted free agents this summer, and their potential departures could provide some financial relief. However, speculation has swirled around the possibility of trading two high-profile contracts to alleviate the massive tax bill: those of six-time All-Defensive Team guard Jrue Holiday and former All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis.
Garnett, a 2008 NBA champion and Defensive Player of the Year with the Celtics, who also led the team to the 2010 NBA Finals, made his stance clear in favor of keeping Porzingis. “Man, you got to bring Porzingis back,” Garnett declared. “Porzingis makes it all unguardable. When Porzingis is in there and everybody is healthy, this year they weren’t healthy at all.”
Porzingis, a 7-foot-2 center at 29 years old, is entering the final year of his contract, valued at $30.7 million. On paper, he’s an ideal fit for the modern NBA—a floor-spacing big man with elite rim protection. During the 2024-25 regular season, Porzingis averaged an impressive 19.5 points on .483/.412/.809 shooting splits, along with 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. However, his availability was limited, appearing in only 42 regular-season games due to injury concerns.
His playoff performance further highlighted his health struggles. In 11 postseason games, including just seven starts, Porzingis’ production dropped significantly, averaging 7.7 points on .316/.154/.689 shooting splits, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. Lingering post-viral health issues hampered his impact, raising questions about his long-term reliability.
Despite these concerns, Garnett’s endorsement of Porzingis reflects the big man’s potential to elevate Boston’s ceiling when healthy. However, the Celtics’ ownership and front office face a critical decision. Moving off Porzingis’ expiring contract could provide financial flexibility and mitigate the team’s unprecedented luxury tax burden. Yet, Garnett’s challenge to management emphasizes the value of retaining a player who, when at his best, can transform the team into an “unguardable” force.
As the offseason approaches, the Celtics must weigh Garnett’s impassioned advice against the realities of their roster constraints and financial obligations. The decision to keep or trade Porzingis could define Boston’s trajectory in the post-Tatum recovery period, making it a pivotal moment for the franchise’s future.