Based on his track record, Porzingis was truly a luxury for Boston, which had the depth to survive his absences the past two seasons. (Porzingis played just 57 games in 2023-24.) With the repeater tax kicking in, plus the limitations imposed by the second apron, Porzingis was expendable in pursuit of a more balanced cap sheet.

Kristaps Porzingis is being traded by the Boston Celtics to the Atlanta Hawks, and part of what will be a three-team deal gives the Brooklyn Nets another selection in Wednesday’s first round

The last time fans saw Porzingis on the court, the big man was battling a mysterious illness prior to the Celtics being eliminated by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA playoffs. Porzingis later took to X to send a heartfelt message to Celtics fans following the trade.