Kristaps Porzingis for Jusuf Nurkic and Mark Williams

[SUPERVILLAIN]

Porzingis, 2025 28th pick, 2025 32nd pick, 2027 lottery protected pick for Nurkic and Williams

Celtics slashes salary while adding two decent centers. Now they can afford not re-signing Al Horford. Hornets at the very least acquire several picks. Then maybe they can flip Porzingis for additional returns.

[cl2117]

Don't see the value here for C's. They only save about $5m in salaries and have to move a large chunk of their remaining draft capital to do it, while picking up 2 guys who can't replicate offensively what KP does for them.

Just doesn't move in the right direction. If part of that draft capital was going to a 3rd team to eat Nurk so they clear a ton of space and get a C for the future in Williams, that makes a lot more sense. I still see an issue given that, unlike with trading Jrue, moving KP leaves a pretty big/unique hole in their frontcourt and Williams doesn't fill that. So they'd need to keep making moves to restructure and they'd have limited avenues over the 2nd apron or under it with limited draft capital.

At that price I think it's a fun move for Charlotte. They're not going to launch themselves into contention with this kind of trade but if they're healthy they can go from the Flagg lottery to the play-in tournament without a doubt. That Lamelo/KP duo would be really impressive offensively and KP still provides much needed rim protection. Without the picks, I think it makes more sense to solider on and find the next team willing to trade for Mark while running out Nurk's expiring, rather than making this kind of move which will be fun but doesn't really do a ton for them in the long-term.

[jayjaysee]

No idea how to value KP but I don’t think Mark Williams is two firsts more valuable than him?

[Mavrelous]

Yeah, valuation isn't clear at all, KP for Nurk/Mark Williams is neutral at best, all players are expiring, all injury prune, I think most trams would roll the dice on KP.

[jbk1234]

This seems wildly off in the Hornets favor. The Celtics could offer an expiring KP for Claxton, with or without a pick, and I think the Nets almost have to take it.

[gswhoops]

Yeah I think you take the picks out and this is worth discussing? But right now it's just Charlotte gets the best player and a bunch of picks on top for some reason.

[SUPERVILLAIN]

Don't see the value here for C's. They only save about $5m in salaries and have to move a large chunk of their remaining draft capital to do it, while picking up 2 guys who can't replicate offensively what KP does for them.

Just doesn't move in the right direction. If part of that draft capital was going to a 3rd team to eat Nurk so they clear a ton of space and get a C for the future in Williams, that makes a lot more sense. I still see an issue given that, unlike with trading Jrue, moving KP leaves a pretty big/unique hole in their frontcourt and Williams doesn't fill that. So they'd need to keep making moves to restructure and they'd have limited avenues over the 2nd apron or under it with limited draft capital.

At that price I think it's a fun move for Charlotte. They're not going to launch themselves into contention with this kind of trade but if they're healthy they can go from the Flagg lottery to the play-in tournament without a doubt. That Lamelo/KP duo would be really impressive offensively and KP still provides much needed rim protection. Without the picks, I think it makes more sense to solider on and find the next team willing to trade for Mark while running out Nurk's expiring, rather than making this kind of move which will be fun but doesn't really do a ton for them in the long-term.

Porzingis obviously is a very good role player. But we all know how bad his injury history is. He is worth far less than $30 million. I'm not sure any team would consider trading for him.

Lakers were required to give up a recent 17th pick, one unprotected pick and one pick swap to get Mark Williams. I don't think Celtics sending Porzingis plus a late first round pick is comparable. Attaching an early second round pick does not make the offer much more attractive. That's why there's a lottery protected pick in the proposed deal. And it is a public secret that Celtics are "desperate" to cut their payroll next season. So I believe teams will use the information to squeeze a little bit extra return.

[HornetJail]

I'd rather just stick with Mark

I'd be very interested to make a different move to build a Mark+Porzingis C rotation, involving a pick or two

[facothomas22]

Meh I think the Celtics would better using KP salary to bring in someone like Nic Claxton or mayabe Jarrett Allen if the Cavaliers get bounced in the 2nd again. I see no reason for the Celtics to pay 2 1st round picks to get Mark Williams, while also taking on Nurkic expiring but awful contract.

[DaVoiceMaster]

If the Celtics are looking for a center, Ayton may be available.

[HornetJail]

If the Celtics are looking for a center, Ayton may be available.

The Celtics would be looking for cheaper players to cut salary, not Ayton on a max.

I assume even in OP's scenario, you'd see Boston paying to move Nurkic to a team with cap space, or even stretching it to save an immediate $17-18M in the trade.

[hugepatsfan]

If the Celtics are looking for a center, Ayton may be available.

The Celtics would be looking for cheaper players to cut salary, not Ayton on a max.

I assume even in OP's scenario, you'd see Boston paying to move Nurkic to a team with cap space, or even stretching it to save an immediate $17-18M in the trade.

Zero shot BOS would stretch Nurkic. Their tax bill is high next year, but the crucial issue is getting under the tax in 2026-27 to reset the repeater rate tax. That's their long term financial undoing if they don't do that. Turning an expiring Porzingis into any money beyond next year would be a total non starter.

[HornetJail]

If the Celtics are looking for a center, Ayton may be available.

The Celtics would be looking for cheaper players to cut salary, not Ayton on a max.

I assume even in OP's scenario, you'd see Boston paying to move Nurkic to a team with cap space, or even stretching it to save an immediate $17-18M in the trade.

Zero shot BOS would stretch Nurkic. Their tax bill is high next year, but the crucial issue is getting under the tax in 2026-27 to reset the repeater rate tax. That's their long term financial undoing if they don't do that. Turning an expiring Porzingis into any money beyond next year would be a total non starter.

well that's what happens when i mash two ideas together into one post, delete part and not all of it lol

I was exploring the idea of the Celtics completely getting underneath the luxury tax for this season, and i imagine you're looking at sending out Porzingis AND Jrue for smaller moveable contracts. in THAT scenario, the stretch provision potentially comes in handy for a moderately useless player on a big contract like Nurkic. It doesn't appear super likely for next season though.

[hugepatsfan]

The Celtics would be looking for cheaper players to cut salary, not Ayton on a max.

I assume even in OP's scenario, you'd see Boston paying to move Nurkic to a team with cap space, or even stretching it to save an immediate $17-18M in the trade.

Zero shot BOS would stretch Nurkic. Their tax bill is high next year, but the crucial issue is getting under the tax in 2026-27 to reset the repeater rate tax. That's their long term financial undoing if they don't do that. Turning an expiring Porzingis into any money beyond next year would be a total non starter.

well that's what happens when i mash two ideas together into one post, delete part and not all of it lol

I was exploring the idea of the Celtics completely getting underneath the luxury tax for this season, and i imagine you're looking at sending out Porzingis AND Jrue for smaller moveable contracts. in THAT scenario, the stretch provision potentially comes in handy for a moderately useless player on a big contract like Nurkic. It doesn't appear super likely for next season though.

Assuming the Celtics draft at #28 and #32 as they stand now and sign both players, they will be $43,978,441 over the projected tax line. Porzingis and Holiday make a combined $63,131,707, so they'd have to move both of them out and only take back $19,153,266. It might not be impossible but probably impractical.

[HornetJail]

Zero shot BOS would stretch Nurkic. Their tax bill is high next year, but the crucial issue is getting under the tax in 2026-27 to reset the repeater rate tax. That's their long term financial undoing if they don't do that. Turning an expiring Porzingis into any money beyond next year would be a total non starter.

well that's what happens when i mash two ideas together into one post, delete part and not all of it lol

I was exploring the idea of the Celtics completely getting underneath the luxury tax for this season, and i imagine you're looking at sending out Porzingis AND Jrue for smaller moveable contracts. in THAT scenario, the stretch provision potentially comes in handy for a moderately useless player on a big contract like Nurkic. It doesn't appear super likely for next season though.

Assuming the Celtics draft at #28 and #32 as they stand now and sign both players, they will be $43,978,441 over the projected tax line. Porzingis and Holiday make a combined $63,131,707, so they'd have to move both of them out and only take back $19,153,266. It might not be impossible but probably impractical.

just using the Hornets as an example here since we're already here... I don't think it's feasible for Charlotte to add $60M worth of long term salary, but just for sake of discussion and proof of concept:


Green + Grant can salary match Holiday
Nurkic + a $3M guarantee to Josh Okogie can match Porzingis

#28, #32, whatever picks you'd get from Charlotte should more than enough able dump Grant and Green on 3rd and 4th teams, maybe nets a small contract player in return for one of those, and you're comfortably below the lux tax after stretching Nurkic (or offering someone more assets to turn him into a smaller contract to stretch instead), with some money left over for Horford/Kornet

[SUPERVILLAIN]

Porzingis' contract is clearly seen as a huge negative right now.

He is ridiculously unreliable. He cannot help good teams win extra games since he is always not 100%. Bad teams see him only as a salary filler. It will be very, very tough to flip him for a good return without (lots of) added incentives.

[Snakebites]

The issue with Porzingis is that he's being paid for the level of player he is- but he's being paid for all 82 games. Not just the half of those games he actually plays in.

If he wasn't so prone to injury teams would be lining up. He's got a great skillset.