The Boston Celtics have officially blown up the core that delivered a championship in 2024. Several key players remain, including Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White, but the likes of Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis are all due to play elsewhere in 2025-26.
It hasn't taken long to understand the reasoning behind those departures, as the latest detail to emerge from the Porzingis trade has proven it was nothing more than a salary dump.
Boston traded Porzingis, 30, to the Atlanta Hawks in a June deal that brought back Georges Niang, cash considerations, and the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2031 second-round draft pick. It was instantly viewed as a financially-motivated move that arguably failed to live up to the quality that the big man provides individually.
The Porzingis saga took a surprising turn when it was revealed that Boston had traded Niang and a pair of second-rounders for undrafted rookie RJ Luis Jr..
The Boston Celtics are trading Georges Niang and two future second-round picks to the Utah Jazz for rookie RJ Luis Jr., sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/l7h0cGobfU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2025
It was then reported that one of the picks included in the deal for Luis could end up being the 2031 second-round selection that Boston received for Porzingis if it's the more favorable selection.
The two second-round picks Boston is sending Utah as part of the Georges Niang-for-RJ Luis Jr. trade are the 2027 most favorable between the Celtics/Magic, and the 2031 most favorable between the Celtics/Cavaliers, per source.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) August 6, 2025
In other words: The Celtics have officially traded Porzingis for an undrafted rookie, the loss of an additional second-rounder, and cash considerations.
Celtics officially traded Kristaps Porzingis for an undrafted rookie
Luis is an intriguing prospect who piled up accolades during the 2024-25 college basketball season. He won the Big East Player of the Year award, was named as a consensus All-American, and took home the Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player honor.
Moreover, Luis led St. John's to the men's program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019, its first trip to the second round since 2000, and its first 30-win season since 1986.
Standing at 6'5.75" and 210 pounds with a 6'10.5" wingspan and a 38.0" vertical, Luis has the physical gifts to excel in the NBA. He's also displayed advanced instincts as a slasher, playing both through and off of contact to make plays around the rim.
With this in mind, there's a realistic possibility that Luis will become a quality NBA player who justifies the Celtics' interest in exploring his potential.
In saying that, Boston has officially traded a former All-Star who helped it win a championship for a completely unproven commodity. There are factors at play that may justify the decision, including Porzingis' injury history and the fact that he's owed $30,731,707 for the 2025-26 season.
Porzingis has an expiring contract, however, which could've been flipped for value had the Celtics remained patient during what's shaping up to be something of a punted season.
With Tatum recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, many expect Boston to simply evaluate its current assets and potentially take action near the trade deadline. The latter goal was certainly achieved with a Porzingis trade that effectively amounted to a full-on dump of a salary that could've prohibited its in-season flexibility.
Regardless of what transpires moving forward, the Porzingis trade was officially a pure salary dump of the most extreme nature.
