Grade The Trade: Who Won The Deal That Sent Kristaps Porzingis To Atlanta Hawks?

In a bold power play timed less than 24 hours after shipping Jrue Holiday to Portland, the Boston Celtics have officially offloaded Kristaps Porzingis to Atlanta in a three-team deal that also brings Brooklyn into the mix. The Hawks land Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick, Brooklyn acquires Terance Mann along with Atlanta’s No. 22 pick in the 2025 draft, and Boston receives sharpshooter Georges Niang plus its own second-rounder.

Trade Details

Atlanta Hawks Receive: Kristaps Porzingis, second-round pick (via Celtics)

Brooklyn Nets Receive: Terance Mann, 2025 No. 22 pick (via Hawks)

Boston Celtics Receive: Georges Niang, second-round pick (via Nets)

From a financial standpoint, this trade allows Boston to shed Porzingis’s hefty $30.7 million salary and drop $4.5 million below the NBA’s second tax apron, a critical move given their position $7.4 million over the first apron and roughly $15.4 million above the luxury-tax line. Combined with their deal involving Holiday, the Celtics are projected to save around $180 million in luxury-tax penalties, an essential recalibration with Jayson Tatum facing a long recovery and their championship window shifting.

On the court, Atlanta bets on Porzingis’ game-changing rim protection and floor spacing, provided his health holds. Brooklyn, meanwhile, boosts its draft arsenal and flexes its cap space, while Boston trades proven talent for financial flexibility and future roster maneuvering.

With so many moving parts of the deal, let’s provide a grade for every major party involved. 

Boston Celtics: B+

The Celtics earn a B+ for their strategic financial recalibration. By moving Porzingis and his $30.7 million expiring contract, Boston dropped $4.5 million below the second tax apron and now sit comfortably $7.4 million under the first apron, representing smart maneuvering with their luxury tax payments, which they were previously around $15.4 million over. 

Their aggressive timing, executed just a day after trading Jrue Holiday, underscores their approach in preserving cap flexibility amid Tatum’s Achilles absence and potentially more offseason moves.

On-court, the Celtics take a short-term hit. Porzingis delivered solid numbers in 2024-25 (19.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.5 BPG) and was crucial in their championship run that ended in the second round of the playoffs. Georges Niang brings more modest production, particularly outside shooting (9.9 PPG on 40.6% 3-PT FG last season), but it’s hard to view this as anything other than a salary dump since the sharpshooter will make $8,200,000 on an expiring contract.

Still, Boston’s balanced architecture and depth give enough promise that losing Porzingis is a calculated compromise, not a collapse. The Celtics are in a much better position moving forward with regards to cap space and potentially building around Jayson Tatum when he returns.

Atlanta Hawks: B+

The Hawks deserve a B+, given the near-perfect alignment between their current roster needs and this trade. Atlanta locks in Porzingis as their starting big, assuming health, and gains a dynamic pick-and-pop partner for Trae Young that improves rim protection and floor spacing, while only adding an expiring contract. 

Financially, it’s low-risk: if things don’t mesh or Porzingis underperforms or re-injures, they can move him at the deadline or let the deal expire with minimal impact on future flexibility. However, there’s upside and downside. 

At age 29, on an expiring contract ($30,731,707 in 2025-26), Porzingis’s injury history remains a legitimate concern, potentially limiting his availability. But if he stays healthy, Atlanta’s frontcourt multiplies in strategic depth, Okongwu’s athleticism paired with Porzingis’s sharpshooting could elevate their ceiling. With little in long-term risk, the hawks wisely bet on high upside.

Brooklyn Nets: C+

Brooklyn earns a C+, a solid, but safe, middle-of-the-road score. By shipping out minimal assets, they picked up swingman Terance Mann (averaging 7.7 ppg with Atlanta) and the No. 22 pick, swelling their count to five first-round selections in the ’25 draft. 

The move fits seamlessly with GM Sean Marks’ model: use cap space to absorb salary, gather picks, and accumulate flexibility. The downside? Mann’s contract (approx. $15.5 million annually) brings recurring financial obligations, and his production is more role-player than difference-maker. 

Meanwhile, the No. 22 pick adds value, but it’s not a high-impact selection. Still, for a team in rebuild mode aiming to stockpile assets, this deal effectively reinforces the Nets’ long-term blueprint.

Kristaps Porzingis: B-

Individually, Porzingis earns a B- because he isn’t playing on a title-contender anymore, but can still be an impact player if he can get on the court. His elite skill set, 7’2″ size, floor spacing, and rim protection remain rare and valuable. In Boston, he averaged 19.5 ppg, shot 41.2% from deep, and anchored their Finals run two seasons ago, despite health setbacks this year.

Moving to Atlanta allows him to reset and prove his worth in a less pressure-packed environment, perhaps maximizing his one-year deal. The key risk is availability. Porzingis missed large chunks of games due to injuries, a torn retinaculum, calf surgery, and selective absence during the 2025 playoffs. 

If he can stay on court, his fit in Atlanta looks ideal; if not, this may remain yet another season overshadowed by missed opportunities. At the very least, Porzingis doesn’t have to play for a team that wanted him gone after this season’s playoffs and can hope for a new stint. 

Brad Stevens: B+

Brad Stevens also merits a B+. He orchestrated two high-stakes exits, Holiday and Porzingis, within 48 hours, prioritizing fiscal responsibility and flexibility as Boston teetered between the second apron and championship contention. 

By balancing immediate savings with moderate returns (Niang, draft equity), Stevens has opened the door for possible future moves, like offloading Sam Hauser or even Jaylen Brown, while averting harsh financial penalties.

One can argue that Boston’s on-court capabilities have undeniably dimmed, losing defensive strength and star power simultaneously. Still, Stevens navigated a narrow path: avoid the crippling tax, maintain enough roster viability to remain competitive, and preserve optionality for retooling or future flexibility. 

That aligns with a B+ grade, astute planning with a clear purpose, even at the cost of present performance. Tatum is out for next season anyway, so retooling with a 20 PPG scorer in Simons and not having to worry about Porzingis’ health can keep Boston on track overall.