Celtics
“Porzingis doesn’t embody what they need from him.”
Just about every Celtics player not named Jayson Tatum has already heard their name mentioned in trade rumors this offseason.
But if you ask former Celtics forward Marcus Morris Sr., there is one lineup regular on Boston’s roster who should be sent packing this summer as Boston looks to clear payroll and duck steep luxury-tax penalties.
During an appearance on Yahoo! Sports’ “Good Word With Goodwill,” Morris didn’t mince words when asked about what he thought about Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis and just how much Boston needs to tear down its roster this offseason.
“I don’t think they need any major changes,” Morris said. “I’m going to be candid because I’m on the media’s side. Porzingis is not a Celtic. Porzingis doesn’t embody what they need from him.
“That’s not no knock to him; I know he has injuries. I think you definitely dangle him to see what you can get. But I don’t think you can get that much, to be honest, the way this league is going on.”
Even though Porzingis’ arrival in Boston played a key role in the Celtics’ run to a title in 2024, the 7-foot-2 center’s tenure with the Celtics has been marred by injury and illness.
Porzingis played in just seven of Boston’s 19 playoff games during that 2024 championship run, as he was sidelined by a calf ailment and later an ankle injury during the NBA Finals that forced him to undergo surgery last offseason.
The 29-year-old center returned for the 2024-25 season, but was limited to 42 games while recovering from that ankle surgery and later dealing with an extended illness. He averaged 19.5 points per game while knocking down 41.2 percent of his three-pointers to go along with 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest.
But, that lingering illness reoccured during the playoffs, sapping Porzingis of his stamina during the most critical stretch of the season. During 11 playoff games this postseason, Porzingis averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds and shot 15.4 percent from 3-point range while logging an average of 21 minutes per contest.
“I don’t think anyone was more frustrated than him. I felt for him because the way it was describe to me was post-viral syndrome, which is just lingering effects of a long virus,” Brad Stevens said after Boston’s season ended in the second round. “I thought he really turned a corner at the end of the regular season, when we went to Madison Square Garden and he was so good [against the Knicks]. Even in the first round [against the Magic].”
“For whatever reason, he didn’t feel good the beginning of the Knicks series and never felt great,” Stevens added. “Our expectation is that the next couple of weeks will do him good.”
When healthy, Porzingis can be a cheat code on the court for the Celtics, given his ability to score in the post, lock down the paint, and sink shots from 3-point range.
But with Porzingis on the hook for more than $30 million this upcoming season and the Celtics potentially staring at a bridge year with Tatum on the mend, Boston could move on from the Latvian product in order to clear the necessary cap space.
Jrue Holiday is another potential trade chip for the Celtics this offseason, given both his age (35) and hefty contract (three years and over $103 million remaining).
But Morris — who played for the Celtics from 2017-19 — believes that Holiday could still help Boston in 2025 and beyond.
“Jrue Holiday, I feel like Jrue still has a ton of years left in him,” Morris said. “Wherever Jrue goes, he’s still going to be able to help a team. The things he brings to the team is unmatched. Defensively, scoring, being able to guard multiple positions.
“I’m a little skeptical about trading the Jrue thing, but I know they just kind of want to open their books. They got a lot of money on the books.”
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.