Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis is a very good player, and there isn’t any debate about that.
However, Porzingis has unfortunately been injured multiple times throughout his career, and his inability to stay on the court has been a major concern for every team he’s been on.
While he helped the Celtics win a championship a season ago, Porzingis couldn’t be counted on much again during the 2025 campaign, playing in just 42 games and dealing with a mysterious illness at the end of the year.
It was an unfortunate situation to watch unfold, but something the Celtics or Porzingis couldn’t control. He was sick, and no one was able to help him out.
But with the expectation that the Celtics will look to move on from him during the offseason, these injuries and illnesses have to play a factor. The Celtics took a chance on him, and it paid off, but it’s also worth mentioning that he only played in 57 games when they won a championship and 42 games this past year.
Another team might not have the same success, as not every team is given the luxury of sitting Porzingis in certain games and still competing at the highest level, as the Celtics were.
For the injury reasons alone, Owen Crisafulli of NESN believes that Porzingis’ trade value could be much lower than some anticipate, adding that he’s coming off a postseason run where he was nearly unplayable.
“The issue is that Porzingis is coming off a postseason run where he was nearly unplayable due to a mysterious illness (he’s also dealt with injury concerns for the majority of his career), and his $30.7 million salary isn’t exactly cheap,” he wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
For the Celtics, the focus is on attempting to get out of the second apron during the offseason.
Moving Porzingis would significantly help with that if they can make the other right moves, making it something they almost have to do.
