The Atlanta Hawks have made a splash in the trade market, acquiring a one-time NBA champion from the Boston Celtics, who recently parted ways with Jrue Holiday, sending him to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons.
Amid swirling rumors about whether Boston’s front office would shake up the 2024 NBA championship roster, these moves seem to confirm their intent to reshape the team. That direction is even more understandable given Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, which is expected to sideline him for an extended period, and the team’s tax issues.
Hawks Trade for Celtics’ Champion Big Man
The Celtics traded Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks in a three-team deal on Tuesday, June 24. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the full trade details are as follows:
- Hawks receive: Porziņģis and a second-round pick
- Nets receive: Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 pick
- Celtics receive: Georges Niang and a second-round pick
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. pic.twitter.com/1fcbIslyVF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2025
Atlanta has consistently been aggressive in recent years, making moves in hopes of surrounding franchise point guard Trae Young with the help he needs.
The trade for Porziņģis marks another chapter in the Hawks’ pursuit of a deep playoff run, similar to their 2021 journey to the Eastern Conference finals. Atlanta previously tried pairing Young with co-star Dejounte Murray, but that experiment didn’t produce the success they envisioned.
The Latvian big man will provide Atlanta with elite rim protection and floor spacing. He has averaged 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks while shooting 36.6% from 3-point range over his nine-year NBA career. And when he’s healthy, he can be an integral piece on a championship team, as seen just one year ago in Boston.
If the Hawks stick with their current roster, they could boast one of the league’s top defensive units, featuring players like Jalen Johnson, NBA Most Improved Player Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. On paper, this team could position itself to be in the playoffs or play-in, fighting for a top-eight seed in the East.
Porziņģis has just one year left on the two-year, $60 million contract he signed with the Celtics, so the Hawks may need to impress him enough to re-sign. Otherwise, they risk losing him for nothing next summer.
Celtics May Continue To Shake Up Roster Despite Moving Below Second Apron
Following the Porziņģis and Holiday trades, the Celtics have dipped below the second apron, but GM Brad Stevens may not be finished, with reports suggesting that even Jaylen Brown is drawing trade interest.
Al Horford has been contemplating retirement for the past few seasons and could decide to hang it up or go to a team positioned for a title. Meanwhile, Luke Kornet had a breakout year filling in for Porziņģis as he dealt with injuries and a mysterious illness. He’ll likely seek a well-deserved pay raise from his veteran-minimum contract, which could put him outside Boston’s budget.
While the Celtics lost two key contributors, they brought in two players who could help them remain one of the East’s top teams. Niang is a versatile forward who can play both wing positions and stretch the floor with his shooting. Simons, just 26, is a dynamic young guard with huge upside.
With the 2025 NBA Draft just one day away, expect more teams to make bold moves in hopes of replicating what the Thunder just accomplished — capturing an NBA title
