Boston Celtics trading Porzingis to Hawks in blockbuster three-team deal

The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets pulled the trigger on a three-team trade Tuesday that reshaped their rosters and shook up the draft board. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, the deal saw Kristaps Porzingis and a second-rounder shipped from Boston to Atlanta, Terance Mann and the No. 22 overall pick (via the Hawks) go to Brooklyn, and Georges Niang plus a future second-rounder make their way to the Celtics.

The Celtics also picked up Cleveland's 2031 second-round pick, which Atlanta previously held the rights to. Meanwhile, the Hawks took on Boston’s least favorable 2026 second-rounder as part of the swap.

This move came just hours after Boston's late-night deal that sent Jrue Holiday packing to Portland in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a pair of second-round picks. Combined, those two trades helped Boston slash a jaw-dropping $180 million in projected luxury tax, trimming down what was once a potential half-billion-dollar payroll for next season.

Thanks to these cost-cutting maneuvers, the Celtics are now below the league's second luxury tax apron and could even exit the tax bracket entirely. With Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury suffered during their playoff loss to the Knicks and an ownership change looming in the coming weeks, Boston’s front office has clearly entered an offseason of recalibration, prioritizing flexibility and financial breathing room over big-name payrolls.

Here's some of the quick reaction from the NBA world on the news:

Porzingis leaves Boston after back-to-back productive seasons, including a career-high 41.2% mark from beyond the arc while pouring in over 19 points per night. Assuming he’s past the illness that disrupted his rhythm late in the year and into the postseason, the 7-footer should fit in well in Atlanta’s frontcourt rotation alongside Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and 2024's No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.

The Hawks also set themselves up nicely for future cap flexibility. Moving off Terance Mann's $15.5 million salary, which runs for three more seasons, frees up significant room down the line. Porzingis, on an expiring $30 million deal, could either be a short-term boost or a long-term investment. Meanwhile, with Trae Young holding a player option and reigning Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels eligible for an extension, Atlanta is keeping its options open heading into next summer.