The Washington Wizards are nearing a three-team trade which will send Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics.
The trade, which has yet to be finalized, involves the Los Angeles Clippers as well and will involve draft picks.
Washington, with a new front office in place, is clearly in sell mode less than a week after sending Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns. Beal’s trade, which netted Washington primarily luxury tax relief and some draft picks, was viewed negatively by pundits and peers alike. Nonetheless, at this point the Wizards should do whatever they can to offload the talent on their roster for as many assets as possible.
Below is the full trade, as we understand it:
Wizards Get
SF, Marcus Morris
SF, Danilo Gallinari
Draft compensation
Celtics Get
PF, Kristaps Porzingis
Clippers Get
PG, Malcolm Brogdon
NBA trade grades: Who wins the Kristaps Porzingis trade between Wizards, Celtics and Clippers?
Kristaps Porzingis is coming off his best, healthy season in quite some time. Porzingis played in 65 games, the most since his rookie season, and average 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest. Those numbers were inflated some since Porzingis was on a losing Washington team, but he can still be an asset on a contending Celtics squad.
Celtics trade grade: B
As Shams suggests, much of this trade will rely upon how much money the C’s will have to spend for Porzingis, and if they are willing to convince him to opt into the final year of his current deal. Some pundits thought Porzingis would pursue a long-term contract this offseason at a lower AAV given his injury history. Getting Porzingis on an expiring deal would help Boston immensely here.
Wizards trade grade: C
The Wizards front office hasn’t proven much as of yet, so I’m basing this grade on recent history. If the Porzingis trade is anything like the Beal trade, then it will be a disappointing one for Washington fans, and mainly meant to clear the tax bill. This Wizards front office wants to lose games, and fast. The current core wasn’t good enough to reach the upper echelon of the East as constructed.
Clippers trade grade: B-
Los Angeles has an excess of wings, and Marcus Morris didn’t make much of an impact. He’s a likely buyout candidate in D.C. The Clippers are interested in upgrading at point guard, though, which is why they were mentioned as a possible destination for Chris Paul upon his move to Washington. Brogdon, a capable defender and passing specialist when healthy, shouldn’t be where their search stops. Brogdon also serves as a Russell Westbrook replacement, which LA needed desperately.