With the Boston Celtics officially out of the playoffs, might the Lakers’ longtime foe assist them fill their most pressing need this summer through a trade?
Even before Jayson Tatum’s shattering injury in Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks, the Celtics were expected to at least partially overhaul their squad this offseason owing to budgetary restrictions. With the earlier-than-expected playoff loss and Tatum’s Achilles tear, which might keep him out for the entire 2025-26 season, the likelihood of an entirely different squad in Boston next autumn increased tremendously.
One of the most frequently stated big names to be rumored as a trade piece is Kristaps Porzingis, a former All-Star center.
In a piece published on Saturday, Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey compiled a list of seven trade options for “Every Realistic Boston Celtics Target,” including a deal for Porzingis to the Lakers.
Trade would reunite Porzingis and Luka Doncic.
As Bailey points out, while some of his previous trade recommendations are aimed at relieving Boston’s financial burden as it prepares to become the first $500-plus million roster next season, the likely Porzingis deal does not fit that mold.
Here’s Bailey’s trading idea:
– The Lakers get Kristaps Porzingis.
– The Celtics acquire Maxi Kleber, Rui Hachimura, a 2030 first-round pick swap, and a 2032 first-round pick swap.
“The playoffs and last couple months of Kristaps Porziņģis’ 2024-25 campaign was completely derailed by a virus, but the healthy KP remains one of the best and most versatile big men in the league,” according to him. “While the Porziņģis/Luka Dončić duo did not gel with the Dallas Mavericks, both have likely been humbled by the last few years.” And seeking a championship with LeBron James may have them more focused on that than who receives credit for the victory.”
Porzingis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 28.8 minutes per game during the regular season, shooting a career-high 41.2% from three. He did miss 40 games, however, and has not played more than 65 games in a season since his second year in the league in 2026-17.
Maxi Kleber was traded to the Lakers in February as part of the startling Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis deal, and he concluded the season with career lows in points (3.0), rebounds per game (2.8), games played (34) and starts (four).
The 33-year-old appeared in only one game for Los Angeles this season, playing five minutes in the team’s season-ending loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round of the playoffs in late April.
During his second full season with the Lakers, Hachimura averaged 13.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 31.7 minutes per game over 59 games (57 starts).
Porzingis Would Be A ‘Dramatic Upgrade’ For The Lakers
After Davis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles struggled against teams with top big men for the remainder of the season.
That was clearly evident in the Lakers’ final game of the season, when Timberwolves big Rudy Gobert overwhelmed them with 27 points and 24 rebounds.
Bailey discussed how he believed the hypothetical Celtics-Lakers trade may benefit both sides.
“More to the point, the Los Angeles Lakers simply need a true center. Porziņģis offers shot blocking, floor space, and occasional post-ups. “And he’d be a significant improvement over Jaxson Hayes,” he wrote. “For Boston, this is less about financial flexibility. Porziņģis’ contract ends in 2025-26, although draft assets are considerable. And Rui Hachimura will offer them a somewhat younger forward than KP.
Leave a Reply