Celtics Could Reunite With All-Star Center In 2026 After Gap Year

Boston Celtics fans shouldn’t rule out a reunion with a star who was just traded.

29-year-old center Kristaps Porzingis is now a member of the Atlanta Hawks. Amid a cost-cutting summer, Boston’s president of basketball operations Brad Stevens sent Porzingis and his $30.7 million expiring salary to Atlanta, a deal announced on June 24 by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“BREAKING: Boston, Atlanta and Brooklyn are finalizing a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics,” Charania wrote.

Porzingis is scheduled to hit free agency next summer, which is notable given Stevens’ habit of re-acquiring former Celtics centers. Stevens’ first big move when he shifted from head coach to GM duties in 2021 was to trade for Al Horford, who played for the Celtics from 2016 to 2019 but had since spent stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Stevens wasn’t afraid to give up a lot to get Horford, either, sending Kemba Walker, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, and a 2025 second-round pick to the Thunder for Horford.

Then, in 2022, Stevens re-acquired former Celtics center Daniel Theis in a deal with the Houston Rockets. Theis proved serviceable in Boston’s 2022 run to the NBA Finals.

In sum, if you’re a Celtics player traded by Brad Stevens, there’s always the possibility that you’ll be brought back to Boston at a later date.

Could a similar fate be in store for Porzingis? His fit on Boston’s roster was undeniable, even if his health betrayed him far too often over the last two seasons. But for a Porzingis return to work, it would come down to money, not health or basketball fit. The very reason that Stevens had to trade Porzingis (the dreaded second apron) is the same reason that re-acquiring KP wouldn’t happen unless Porzingis’ value drops even further between now and next summer.

That’s not an impossible outcome, though, especially given Porzingis’ injury history. Not to wish anything but full health upon Porzingis, but if he were to suffer through another injury-ravaged season in 2025-26 and miss significant time, his list of suitors in free agency would shrink, driving down the cost to sign him.

In that case, a Celtics return would be plausible. Ultimately, though, what’s best for Porzingis is to stay healthy and have a productive season, leading to a juicy payday from the Hawks or someone else.