Three-Way Trade Sends Kristaps Porzingis to Boston
Adding more excitement to the Bradley Beal trade, the Washington Wizards just pulled off another big move involving a deal to send Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics in a three-team deal. The trade involves the Memphis Grizzlies as well, which makes things more interesting. In light of the recent blockbuster narrative that sends the Wizards’ All-Star guard to the Phoenix Suns, basketball fans and bettors get to revel in major moves involving the former Dallas Mavericks forward.
Be sure to check out our latest Nitro contests to maximize your winning potential throughout 2023! Test your betting skills with our extensive library of sporting events! Also available are exclusive contests with massive Bitcoin prizes for winners! Click here to view and join our ongoing Nitro contests and promos!
Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics
The Blockbuster Deal
The three-way deal originally had Malcolm Brogdon leaving for the LA Clippers but fell through. The revised deal now features Memphis giving Tyus Jones to DC and Marcus Smart tickets to Grind City. Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari join Jones with the Wizards. Boston also gets a pair of first-round picks from Memphis, the 25th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and Golden State’s 2024 projected first-round pick while sending the 35th pick to Washington.
The deal nearly fell apart and the Clippers veered away from another three-team deal because of concerns over Brogdon’s health that would have also landed Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey, and the 30th pick in Washington.
This script would move Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies. Danilo Gallinari heads out to Washington as part of the package. Porzingis maintains a $36 million player option for next season he would need to agree to for the deal to push through. He’s expected to close an extension in Boston, the maximum the franchise offers would be a two-year $77 million contract starting July.
Trading Smart was part of the options for the 2022 NBA finalists to match the salary of Porzingis. This involves draft equity as well. This scenario will likely take place during the current salary cap year before the end of June, which allows the Celtics to operate under the current trade rules. Having this flexibility means good things for a front office that spends a lot to build championship contenders. Pulling off this trade in the 2023-24 NBA season under the revised trade rules would subject the franchise to the first tax option amounting to over $170 million.
The Celtics still have to deal with Grant Williams. Their next step is to decide whether to keep him or not. This acquisition makes it less likely that he stays with the team since it pushes them beyond the second tax apron and hinders their flexibility throughout the following campaign. They could still hold onto him or trade him for draft picks to open up a trade exception.
Bigs on Bigs
Boston had their eye on the big man for a while now. Their interest in seeing him wear the green and white jersey dates back to over five years ago when Phil Jackson spearheaded the New York Knicks basketball operations. The veteran coach was prepared to move his pieces around, and the Celtics were one of the many interested parties and a strong offer that included first-round picks for the promising star. Their interest was enough for people to think they would have let go of either Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, but now their lineup features all three stars.
The franchise’s search for another big man is about to conclude. They were in the running to acquire Jakob Poeltl. However, Porzingis and the move don’t come risk-free with his high-30s salary and history of injuries. The team is willing to overlook these woes and any potential absence with a rather impressive big-man rotation. Boston still has Robert Williams III and Al Horford at their disposal. More than that, the roster also has Luke Kornet if he goes with the $3.5 million team option.
The seven-foot-three player did well in his final year with the Wizards. He appeared in 65 games for the team–his most since the 2016-17 season. He averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds while offering a strong interior defense. Furthermore, he took 5.5 three-pointers per game and hit 38.5% of his shots from downtown. He can fit well with the Celtics’ system as they prioritize big men that can shoot, and the Latvian would likely be the best option in this scenario.
Some may see this as both a risky and a rewarding move for the Celtics, but with the Nuggets maintaining the championship favorites title, these are the moves that teams need to execute properly if they hope to pressure the reigning champions.
Where to Bet on the NBA with Bitcoin
Nitrobetting offers a solid channel for those who want to bet on the NBA Season with bitcoin. The power of crypto and its lightning-fast transactions make the entire NBA Season betting more enjoyable.
This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023-24 NBA season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest basketball betting odds on our online bitcoin sportsbook.
