Remember, the Celtics were big Game 7 favorites before a turned Tatum ankle on the opening play, and they would’ve been favorites in the Finals with home court advantage. All that size will create myriad mismatches on offense too.īoston was already an intriguing Denver matchup.
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Porzingis is stout enough to hang with a player like Jokic, allowing Rob Williams to wreak havoc at free safety, and the perimeter defense will be long and bothersome. Boston now has the size to match a team like that. We just saw how important Denver’s size advantage was in the Finals. They also used the pick in the deal to nab Jordan Walsh, my single favorite defender in the draft, and four extra seconds (that’s two-thirds of a Bradley Beal!!) they’ll use in future trades. White is every bit the defender Smart is - I’d argue better from a team perspective - and this is now a BIG lineup with size everywhere. That moves Jayson Tatum back to the three and makes Jaylen Brown the de facto “shooting guard” with Derrick White the lone true guard (with Malcolm Brogdon off the bench). They’ll play two bigs at all times, with some combination of Porzingis, Horford, Rob Williams, and possibly Grant Williams if re-signed. I think I love this trade for the Celtics.īoston made a concerted decision to get bigger with this trade.
Horford is getting too old to switch regularly, and Porzingis is more of a drop defender.īut less versatile doesn’t necessarily mean worse. He was the (undeserving) Defensive Player of the Year a season ago and a real weapon against the league’s best perimeter players, and his presence gave Boston its switching defensive identity. Smart’s absence makes Boston less versatile defensively, no doubt. Removing Smart from the team is, for better and for worse, a major culture change. The Celtics needed a culture change after repeated failures at the highest level. Smart was the heart and soul of this franchise, but from what we just saw this postseason - six home losses to inferior teams including a home Game 7 to end the year - maybe it was time for a heart transplant. Pictured: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Washington Wizards with Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics. Boston’s offense is far more versatile now. His presence allows the Celtics to play four- or five-out at all times, four only if Williams is providing a vertical lob threat instead.
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Porzingis gives Boston another legitimate scoring threat, and at 7-foot-3, a guy who can get his shot anytime.
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Think Al Horford and Robert Williams combined into one player - floor spacing and shooting as a vertical threat offensively plus some defense to boot. Think Brook Lopez, if you traded in some defense for a lot more offense. Porzingis has filled out his frame and added strength to become a legit center and rim protector, a quality defender on one end and an efficient scorer and stretch big on the other.
He, not Beal, was the best Wizard with the best year of his career, and has quietly become the player we’ve waited for. Kristaps Porzingis was really good for Washington. I like the deal for all three teams - Washington got something for nothing since Porzingis would’ve opted out, and Memphis got its wing defender and point guard depth all in one player - but let’s focus on Boston. The Celtics got the best player in the trade and the best draft asset.
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