Celtics Weigh Kristaps Porzingis Trade Amid Injury, Salary Concerns

The Boston Celtics face a challenging offseason as they navigate salary cap constraints and injury concerns surrounding Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis, who is owed $30.7 million for the 2025-26 season, has struggled with availability due to injuries and a recent mysterious illness that limited him to 42 games last season, raising questions about his trade value. While the Celtics benefit from Porzingis' versatile scoring and defense, his inconsistent health has made him a likely trade candidate as the team aims to reduce payroll and get under the NBA's second luxury tax apron. However, reports indicate that the Celtics would prefer to retain Porzingis long-term at a lower salary if possible, which might require trading other players such as Jrue Holiday, Sam Hauser, or Payton Pritchard. The decision to keep or trade Porzingis will significantly influence the Celtics' roster moves and financial strategy moving forward. This situation highlights the delicate balance the Celtics must strike between maintaining competitiveness and managing their salary cap effectively.