Three-Team NBA Trade Proposal Sends Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis To Nets

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report is proposing that the Brooklyn Nets acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade involving the Dallas Mavericks. 

Here are the full details of Pincus’ trade idea: 

Mavericks get Jrue Holiday, $3 million trade exception (Olivier-Maxence Prosper)

Celtics get Daniel Gafford (from Mavericks), PJ Washington (from Mavericks), Drew Timme (from Nets), $32.4 million trade exception (Holiday), $2.5 million trade exception (Xavier Tillman Sr.), $2.4 million trade exception (Neemias Queta), $2.2 million trade exception (Porzingis)

Nets get Kristaps Porzingis (from Celtics), Dwight Powell (from Mavericks), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (from Mavericks), Xavier Tillman Sr. (from Celtics), Neemias Queta (from Celtics), 2026 protected first-round pick (from Celtics), 2027 first-round pick swap (from Celtics)

The Celtics have to break up their core this offseason to avoid having the most expensive roster in the NBA next season. 

Since Jayson Tatum could miss all of next season recovering from his right Achilles tendon tear, it doesn’t make sense for Boston’s new ownership group to have the most expensive roster in the league. 

“The Mavericks and Celtics improve in the short term; the Nets invest further in a rebuild. The three-team trade could be a win-win-win solution,” Pincus wrote. 

Porzingis averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the 2024-25 regular season and 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists in the 2025 playoffs for the Celtics. The All-Star dealt with an unknown illness and he had trouble breathing in the postseason. 

After winning the championship last season, Boston lost to the New York Knicks in the second round of this year’s playoffs in six games.  

The 29-year-old Porzingis has career averages of 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists with the Knicks, Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Celtics. He’ll make $30,731,707 next season in the final year of his contract.