Is Smart/KP trade good….

[TheReaLPuba]

…if it’s just a one year rental for Porzingis?

Porzingis going into the final year of his 5 year contract (@ $36 million)

Will become unrestricted after next season.

Seems unlikely we resign this guy.

We basically traded Smart for a future first and multiple 2nd rounders???

[ChillyWilly]

I'm in the camp that Marcus was addition by subtraction. He needed to go. Our big problem the last few seasons is not having a floor general who can settle a team and finish off games. 

[cman88]

…if it’s just a one year rental for Porzingis?

Porzingis going into the final year of his 5 year contract (@ $36 million)

Will become unrestricted after next season.

Seems unlikely we resign this guy.

We basically traded Smart for a future first and multiple 2nd rounders???

I doubt it is a one year rental and not sure why it seems unlikely considering reports are we are looking to extend him this summer.  Look at the league this year, you always can trade him later if it doesn't work out. I mean golden state got out of Pooles contract. Wizards out of Beal. So signing him to an extension isn't some "scary" thing.

it's too early to say whether it will be successful or not either because we have yet to see the results on the court. If the team looks like an unstoppable force and this is the move that gets them over the top and brings banner 18 home. It is very successful either way.

But say it is the same old same old and the team underachieves again and is soft mentally. I'm still not sure its a bad trade because then we are looking at a bigger issue where there is something mentally wrong with the core of Tatum/Brown and we need to make even more drastic changes to the roster.

Celtics are just at a spot right now where they are talented enough to make the ECF or Finals. But they are missing something that is going to bring home the championship. Brad is trying to find out what that ingredient is. So we don't become one of those "what if" teams.

[cman88]

I'm in the camp that Marcus was addition by subtraction. He needed to go. Our big problem the last few seasons is not having a floor general who can settle a team and finish off games.

I do wonder if Marcus suffered somewhat from not playing "within his role" due to his tenure and status on the team. He should be a "3 and D" player who makes sure the plays get ran. but he at times viewed himself as part of the "big 3". some games taking more shots than tatum/brown or always being the guy to take the last second shot.

Brogdon/White may not bring the same intensity that smart did. but they may be more apt to play within their role and understand where they are in the hierarchy.

I mean Draymond green is a similar player to Smart IMO. But I think he plays within his role. Understanding who he is on that team. You wont see him taking shots away from Curry/Klay

[boscel33]

…if it’s just a one year rental for Porzingis?

Porzingis going into the final year of his 5 year contract (@ $36 million)

Will become unrestricted after next season.

Seems unlikely we resign this guy.

We basically traded Smart for a future first and multiple 2nd rounders???

If they feel they can't sign him or it doesn't work out, it's a 36M expiring deal that is extremely valuable. 

[Big333223]

I don't see any reason to worry about KP walking next season. It could happen, sure, but my understanding is the Celtics are already working on an extension for him and even if they can't get one done, the Celtics will have to be the favorites to re-sign him next summer as long as this year doesn't totally stink, in which case the conversation gets a lot more complicated.

[Celtics2021]

…if it’s just a one year rental for Porzingis?

Porzingis going into the final year of his 5 year contract (@ $36 million)

Will become unrestricted after next season.

Seems unlikely we resign this guy.

We basically traded Smart for a future first and multiple 2nd rounders???

If they feel they can't sign him or it doesn't work out, it's a 36M expiring deal that is extremely valuable.

Correct.  $36 million goes a long way if you want to turn that contract into something else.

[celts55]

Is it a good trade? No, it’s a great trade.
I’m sorry but people are being too sentimental and forgetful.
Smart did not play well last year. He took way too many shots for a guy who can’t shoot. Bad turnovers, T’s at the worst time, and really only played defense on occasion. Can anybody tell me a time he shout down someone? Also, the Celtics had too many guards and were thin in the front court.
Porzingis is 7’3 can score, rebound and protect the rim. To get 2 firsts also is pretty amazing.

[Vermont Green]

I disagree with the premise that it is unlikely we resign or extend Porzingis.  I feel just the opposite.  We are in the driver's seat to sign him if we want to.  I also completely disagree that it is somehow addition by subtraction with Marcus Smart.  Let's recap the trade as it now stands (and I am assuming that our pick #35 is a wash to pick #38 that we used to take Walsh), this is what we received for Smart plus Gallinari and Muscala (who are really just salary filler in the big scheme of things):

Porzingis
2024  1st — GSW (Protected 1-4 in 2024)
2024 2nd — Dallas
2025 2nd — Best of Detroit, Golden State, and Washington
2026 2nd — Best of Minnesota, New York, New Orleans, and Portland
2027 2nd — Atlanta

That is about what WAS got for Beal, maybe more.  They got Chris Paul and a bunch of picks.  Chris Paul was flipped for Jordan Poole and some more but protected picks.  Clearly MEM did not view adding Smart as subtraction.  Memphis gave up Jones and 2 first round picks to get Smart.  The first round picks were real, not highly protected and likely to become 2nd rounders in 2029.  The GSW pick has unlikely protections next draft, then become top 1 protected and then unprotected.  It almost certainly is going to convey as a first in 2024.

I think this trade is going to go down as a big win for Boston (also for MEM).  We just need to make sure Porzingis does not play any international games this summer like Gallinari did last summer.  I don't want to come right out and say it but you know what I mean.

[Rikibellevie]

No it is not.

It's not only about the emotion of loosing Smart. Not only about our identity, the mentoring of our team. Not only about a player that still have some elite defensive level (he was DPY 1 Y ago with Udoka's defense).

He was not the problem. His hero ball in the POs existed sometimes, but he also improved a little in playmaking. He had an OK A/TO rate in PO's, like White, who was for most a satisfaction this year. Playmaking was a part of our loss last year finals and even this year. Smart is not elite but is a part of the stability of the game. No our ballhandling and IQ is worse, is really the answer Tatum-Brown-White who have the ball in crunch playing time ? Smart also hited the same amount of 3's than Brown with a little better pourcentage, not even talking about Brown's F/T.  In his role he was better than Brown this POs (Brown was lost in many switching, defensive intensity, exposed by Heat's guy he shouldn't have...)

Porzingis is not the answer. Yes we needed to find a good big for the future. I used to like Porzingis. He has talent and size. But 1 year, injury prone, a little soft and unproven in PO's (when Smart was tough as hell).

So now I expect there is something else to grab a PG, probably with Brown or picks. White is perfect at the 2 and Brown is a wing.

[keevsnick]

…if it’s just a one year rental for Porzingis?

Porzingis going into the final year of his 5 year contract (@ $36 million)

Will become unrestricted after next season.

Seems unlikely we resign this guy.

We basically traded Smart for a future first and multiple 2nd rounders???

I believe several sources including Marc Stein have reported they plan on extending him two years.

[tonydelk]

I'm in the camp that Marcus was addition by subtraction. He needed to go. Our big problem the last few seasons is not having a floor general who can settle a team and finish off games.

I do wonder if Marcus suffered somewhat from not playing "within his role" due to his tenure and status on the team. He should be a "3 and D" player who makes sure the plays get ran. but he at times viewed himself as part of the "big 3". some games taking more shots than tatum/brown or always being the guy to take the last second shot.

Brogdon/White may not bring the same intensity that smart did. but they may be more apt to play within their role and understand where they are in the hierarchy.

I mean Draymond green is a similar player to Smart IMO. But I think he plays within his role. Understanding who he is on that team. You wont see him taking shots away from Curry/Klay

TP.  I 100% agree with this.  Marcus will always be a Celtic.  He played with heart on the court and lead with his heart off of it.  He is the type of person that you want your kid to look at as a role model.

As for his role I always felt like when he played under control and just took wide open shots versus trying the tatum side step 3 or an ISO 3 etc he was the player he needed to be day in and day out and the team thrived.  When he tried to do too much or had the mentality he can score on anyone it drove me nuts.  I don't mind when a player takes a wide open shot.  They should.  It's what the play calls for.  What I hate and I hate this with any player is taking a highly contested shot.  I don't care if your MJ.  You have 4 other players on the court and if its not a desperation shot that needs to be taken because the timeclock is running out then give it up for an open shot.  If the perimeter is not open and the timeclock is running down clear out the lane and post up your man.  A contested 3 is way worst then a contested 2 in the paint. 

Marcus was one of my favorite but also the most frustrating players the C's have ever had.  He was as frustrating as Jeff Green was.  Jeff Green needed Marcus's attitude.  He should have shot more.  Marcus less.

[liam]

A take on the Smart trade:

https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/celtics/celtics-trade-back-multiple-times-draft-jordan-walsh-38th

[Valid]

Porzingis is not the answer. Yes we needed to find a good big for the future. I used to like Porzingis. He has talent and size. But 1 year, injury prone, a little soft and unproven in PO's (when Smart was tough as hell).

So now I expect there is something else to grab a PG, probably with Brown or picks. White is perfect at the 2 and Brown is a wing.

I can tell you've never actually watched Porzingis play if you think he is "soft." Porzingis is absolutely not afraid to mix it up (look up how he checked Marcus Morris) and unquestionably plays with an edge. Just because he is on the thinner side doesn't mean he is "soft."

And while he may be unproven in the playoffs, that's because he has only played in 10 playoff games largely due to the fact that he has been on terrible teams. Also, he was phenomenal against the Clippers during the 2020 postseason before getting hurt. Dude was averaging 24 and 9 on 53/53/87 shooting in three games (in one of which he was ejected early in the third quarter because of the Morris scuffle).

Porzingis has never been on a truly good team in his entire NBA career. Now he is. We'll see how he adjusts.

[vjcsmoke]

Forget the picks for a moment and put sentimentality aside.

This trade is basically Smart for Porzingis.  So what do you get with Kristaps Porzingis?

Well first of all he is a 27 year old, 7'3 center in his prime.

Last season he put up numbers of 23.2 ppg, 2.7 apg, 1.5 bpg, 8.4rpg, on 38.5% 3 point shooting, 49.8% FG, and 85.1% FT.

So what you are getting here is a legit rim protector with excellent size who can shoot from outside, post up, and when he gets fouled, he can knock down those free throws.

Why did we lose to the Heat, why did we struggle against the 76ers?  I think it came down to lack of size. 

We struggled to contain players like Joel Embiid and Bam Adebayo.  If we had made it to the Finals against the Nuggets we would have struggled against Nikola Jokic. 

Porzingis gives us a counter to those talented big men.

Porzingis also adds  another dimension to our offense that we didn't have before, a reliable post game.  Yes most of our points are still going to come through our stars Tatum and Brown on the perimeter.  But now we have the option to throw it in to Porzingis, let him work the post against a smaller opponent and get high percentage baskets in crunch time.

Before the only option felt like make Tatum or Brown create or you're not going to get much out of the possession.  Now we have a reliable #3 scoring option.

Now is health a concern, with Porzingis track record yes.  But that's been true of our other other big men in Time Lord and Horford as well.  With all three of these guys you're more likely to have at least 2 of them available for any particular game.

Bottom line this trade balances the roster from a talent perspective - we had too many guards and not enough big men.  Now we have quality bigs, quality wings, and if White and Brogdan continue to play well, we have the guard play to push deep in the playoffs.

I don't even think Brad is done wheeling and dealing yet, but the Porzingis/Smart trade is a significant move that increases our chances at postseason success.  And in title town that's what really matters.  Basketball analysts like Steven A Smith have already declared that the Celtics are now favorites for the title next season.

FUN FACT:  Kristaps Porzingis is 1 of only 3 NBA players to score at least 20ppg with at least 1.5 blocks last season, the other two were Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis.  Just to give you an idea of the company that he shares.