The Hawks are swooping in to land Kristaps Porzingis. Atlanta is finalizing a trade to acquire Porzingis from the Celtics in a three-team deal that also involves the Nets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
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In the swap, the Hawks would also acquire a second-round pick from the Celtics, the Nets would get Terance Mann and the No. 22 pick in this year’s draft and Boston would end up with Georges Niang and a second-round pick.The trade, if completed, would mean the Nets have five first-round picks in Wednesday’s draft.
Charania reports that the move helps the Celtics get out of the NBA’s second apron.
MORE TO COME
NBA BATTLERS IN BIG SHAKE-UP
Two of the NBA’s worst teams are making a trade to shake up their respective rosters.
The Pelicans are sending CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Wizards for Jordon Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday.
Washington (18-64) was the second-worst team in the NBA this season, while New Orleans (21-61) was the fourth-worst.
McCollum, 33, averaged 21.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 56 games. It was the 10th straight season he averaged more than 20 points a game.
The veteran guard is on an expiring contract, which carries a $30.67 million cap hit for the 2025-26 season.
Olynyk, acquired from the Raptors in the February Brandon Ingram trade, averaged 10.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game across 20 appearances for New Orleans in an increased role.
The 34-year-old is also on an expiring contract with a $13.45 million cap hit for next season.
Poole, 26, averaged a career-high 20.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.0 rebounds across 68 games in his second season with the Wizards after being traded by the Warriors two years ago.
He has two years left on his contract at $31.85 million and $34.04 million, respectively.
Bey did not play this season after tearing his ACL last year. The 26-year-old forward is entering the second season of a three-year, $20 million contract.The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft takes place Wednesday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the second round being held on Thursday.
HOLIDAY TRADED TO BLAZERS
The Celtics have begun their pivot after a disappointing end to their season.
They traded Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, according to ESPN.
Holiday, 35, was a key part of the Celtics’ championship core from last season, but after being eliminated in six games by the Knicks in the second round this year, they’re moving in another direction.
With the Celtics’ future in flux due to Jayson Tatum’s torn ACL, Holiday was one of the top candidates to be moved given his large contract.
He is set to make $US32.4 million next year and $US34.8 million the following season with a $US37.2 million player option for the 2027-28 season.
Holiday is a two-time champion, having previously won with the Bucks.
Simons, 26, was with the Blazers all seven years of his career and last year averaged 19.3 points per game.
This article was originally published at the New York Post and was republished with permission.