As the Boston Celtics head into an uncertain offseason, NBA legend Kevin Garnett is sounding the alarm from afar, urging the team to avoid a costly mistake. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the entire 2025-26 regular season due to a torn Achilles suffered in the playoffs, the Celtics face tough decisions about their roster, particularly regarding aging contracts and potential trades. However, Garnett has one clear message for the franchise: do not trade Kristaps Porzingis.
The towering Latvian center, entering the final year of his $30.7 million contract, is a cornerstone of Boston’s lineup when healthy. Garnett, speaking passionately on his podcast, emphasized Porzingis’ unique value to the team. “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’ 2024-25 regular season was limited to just 42 games, but his impact was undeniable. Averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 41.2% from three-point range, he proved to be a matchup nightmare for opponents. However, the playoffs were a different story. Plagued by a challenging illness, Porzingis struggled to find his rhythm, unable to deliver the scoring punch Boston needed.
Despite the postseason disappointment, Garnett remains steadfast in his belief that Porzingis is irreplaceable. The Celtics would be hard-pressed to find another player with his rare combination of size, shooting, and defensive prowess. Trading him, in Garnett’s view, would be a grave error that could derail Boston’s championship aspirations.
Rumors are also swirling around other key players, with Jrue Holiday’s name surfacing in trade talks. While moving Holiday might be a viable option to shake up the roster, Garnett’s stance is clear: if he were calling the shots, Porzingis would stay put. The $30.7 million contract may seem steep, but for a player who can transform the Celtics’ offense into an “unguardable” force, it’s a price worth paying.
As Boston navigates this pivotal offseason without Tatum and with aging contracts to consider, ignoring Garnett’s warning could come at a heavy cost. Keeping Porzingis might just be the key to maintaining the Celtics’ edge in a highly competitive Eastern Conference.