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Writer's pictureJJ Peters

The Celtics, Wizards, and Grizzlies agree on a three team trade!

Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics in a three team trade! (STN Blog)



The Boston Celtics, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Washington Wizards made a three team trade that started this year's Free Agency in the NBA! The trade involved three players as well as draft picks for the future! The trade was a little different before it became official. The Clippers were originally involved and were going to trade for the reigning 6th Man of the Year Malcom Brogdan, but decided not to at the last moment because of his injury history! The trade then introduced the Grizzlies as well as the Wizards and the Celtics who were the driving force behind the trade! Here are the details of the trade as well as what every team will receive in the deal!


The original trade details:


The original trade included the Celtics, Wizards and the Clippers. The agreement was going to be between the Celtics, Clippers and the Wizards. The deal with the Celtics included Porzingis reportedly heading to the Celtics. In that reported trade, Malcolm Brogdon was going to the Clippers, the Wizards would have gotten the 30th pick in this year's NBA Draft and Porzingis would have gone to the Celtics. When the trade fell apart, Boston oscillated its deal with Memphis rather than LA.


Celtics Receive:


  • Kristaps Porzingis (via Wizards)

  • No. 25 pick in 2023 Draft (via Grizzlies)

  • 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected, via Warriors)


Grizzlies receive:

  • Marcus Smart (via Celtics)


Wizards receive:

  • Tyus Jones (via Grizzlies)

  • Danilo Gallinari (via Celtics)

  • Mike Muscala (via Celtics)

  • No. 35 pick in 2023 Draft (via Celtics)


Celtics Acquire:

For the Celtics they receive a former All-Star and one who almost made it to Utah last winter. Boston receives a much needed big man who can shoot. The Celtics already have Al Horford and Robert Williams, but none of them are great shooters and Porzingis can make the squad a more fast tempo lineup. On top of that, Boston needs more big men, especially a guy like Porzingis who can stretch out the floor. KP will now play for his third team as he played for the Knicks from 2015 until 2019. He then was traded to Dallas where he was going to be the replacement for Nowitzki. However, after he received a massive extension in the summer of 2019, which was worth 158 million over the next 5 years, he struggled fitting in the lineup. With the emergence of Luka Doncic, it made Porzingis a second fiddle to the 2018/2019 Rookie of the year. Porzingis struggled being the number two and was eventually dealt to the Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans. Washington received Porzingis and a second round pick. Boston also gets two first round picks as well and their depth becomes even more stronger. The Celtics might have just got a steal without having to give up that much.


The Celtics award Kristaps Porzingis with a new extension:

After the trade became official, Boston and Porzingis agreed on an extension. The 7 foot 3 big man received a lucrative new deal that is a two year extension that is worth 60 million. He would have been a free agent next offseason, if he had not agreed on a new deal. Back in early June, the former 4th overall pick in the 2015 draft, picked up his 36 million player option to remain with the Wizards at the time. However, he agreed with Washington to be sent to Boston in the three team trade. Washington is clearly starting on the rebuild as they have now traded Bradley Beal, Chris Paul and now Kristaps Porzingis. After the trade, CelticsPresident Brad Steven had this to say about Porzingis: "I said this at the start of the summer: I thought that we needed to balance our roster and make sure that we looked at the best ways to do that,". "And that meant that we were going to likely lose a really, really, really good player”…” Last season KP played in 65 games, averaged 23.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.7 APG and shot 49% from field goal percentage as well as 35.9%. He will now join a team that has the likes of Jason Tatum and Jaylon Brown.
Brown is eligible for a supermax contract of five-year contract worth up to as much as $295 million since he made the All-NBA second team last season. Despite the Celtics wanting to bring back Brown, there have been reports that suggest he could be traded this offseason as he is frustrated with the origination. Also the Celtics will need to pay Tatum after next season as he is eligible for a supermax deal next summer.


Grizzlies Acquire:

The Memphis Grizzlies have had quite an offseason to say the least. First of all, the whole Ja Morant situation. Then the Murray State product did something similar after the season ended. When the League made the decision to suspend Morant for the first 25 games of the 2023/2024 season, the franchise then soon made the deal for another point guard. Memphis did have one of the best reserve point guards in the NBA. However, with Morant being out, they needed a point guard like Marcus Smart who is a hard worker and a great defender. Smart won the Defensive Player of the Year in the 2021/2022 season, and has been praised by many for his hustle and hard work. The Oklahoma State product has been in Boston since 2014 and he was the longest tenured Celtic on the team. The 29 year old was drafted by Boston with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft. He was mainly the shooting guard throughout his first seven seasons with the squad. As the Celtics had some other point guards on the team such as Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, Isaiah Thomas, Kemba Walker and others. Smart earned a reputation for being a hard-nosed defender and also had fierce leadership during his tenure with the Celtics. Along with winning the Defensive Player of the Year last season, he also was named to the All-Defensive 1st Team three times and won the NBA`s Hustle award three times as well. In his career, Smart has averaged 10.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.5 RPG and also had almost 2 steals per game. Smart will be missed dearly by the Celtics organization and their faithful, as they had watched him grow as a player. He was the exact definition of a Boston Celtic!


Wizards Acquire:

The Washington Wizards are obviously in a full rebuild now! They have now traded the likes of Bradley Beal, Kristops Porzingis and even traded Chris Paul after acquiring him from the Suns! Washington did retain Kyle Kuzma as he resigned with the club on the second day of free agency. His deal was for 4 years and roughly around 102 million. The Wizards acquired from the trade was Tyus Jones from the Grizzlies, Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala from the Celtics as well their No. 35 pick in 2023 Draft which ended up being Julian Phillips, but they later traded him to the Bulls.
The big part of the trade for the Wizards ended up being Tyus Jones. Jones is 27 years old and will now play for his third team in the Association. He was drafted late in the first round back in 2015 by the Cavs in 2015, but then very quickly traded to the Timberwolves. The Duke product then played for Minnesota four seasons and then left for Memphis. Jones is widely regarded as one of the league’s best backups. The 27 year old turned in a career-high campaign last season, setting highs in points, assists and minutes played. During last season, he averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 assists and averaged 24.3 minutes in 80 games played. This move is another step for Washington to rebuild and have the best shot at landing the number one pick next season. This also allows Tyus Jones to get the chance to see if he is ready for a leading role with a young team.
The Wizards are also acquiring veteran Danilo Gallinari in the trade! Gallinari did not play at all for the Celtics last season as he was injured for all of it. Gallinaro was traded from the Hawks to the Spurs last summer, but was then waived. The veteran then signed a two year deal with Boston for 2 years and 13.3 million. Last time he was fully healthy, he averaged 11.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 1.5 APG.
The other player in the trade that Washington will receive is Mike Muscala. Muscala was traded to Boston at the deadline from the Thunder. The Celtics traded Muscala for Justin Jackson and two future second-round picks. In his career he has now played for Hawks, Sixers, Lakers, Thunder and Celtics. The 32 year old forward played 20 games for the Celtics and averaged 5.9 PPG and 3.4 RPG during his time in Boston. However, in the playoffs, he was later removed entirely from the lineup.
The Wizards projected starting lineup next season is expected to look like this. Tyus Jones at point or the one, Jordan Pool at the shooting guard or the two, Corey Kispert as the small forward or the three, Kyle Kuzma (who was just resigned) will be the power forward also known as the four and the center/five is expected to be sixth year big man Daniel Gafford.

Conclusion:

The Wizards are headed towards a rebuild and are going to likely be in the conversations for the top pick in next year's draft! With the additions of Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala, the Wizards will be hoping that they can turn their franchise around and start the rebuild. With a new GM in Michael Winger who is replacing Tommy Shepherd who they fired after missing the postseason for the second straight year. Washington has not won a playoff round since 2017. His main job is to get the best deals out of trades and have the Wizards back into contending for the playoffs.
For the Celtics, they got a top shooter in Kristaps Porzingis and also got two first round picks that they can use to continue their pursuit of a championship. Porzingis had a great season last and almost made the All-Star game. However, he played for a team that has struggled the last few seasons along with not making the playoffs or even the play-in-game. The Celtics are projected to go far next season and it will once again be championship or bust!
Memphis is losing one of the best reserves in the League, but they are obtaining a former DPOY. Smart is the best defensive point guard in the Association and also one of the hardest workers in the NBA! Marcus Smart can even play the two once Ja Morant returns from his suspension. Even though they lose Jones, they receive Smart and now have one of the best defensive backcourts in the League. Last season the Grizzlies were a top 5 defense with a rating of 110.7.

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