Latest news with #KristapsPorzingis
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics' newly acquired forward makes statement on fan expectations
The Celtics have been very active this offseason. For financial reasons, they had to part ways with some key players on their 2024 championship roster recently. One of the players they got in return isn't exactly an upgrade, and fans let that be known. This player was recently on a podcast, where he made a statement on why the fans have the right to be frustrated with him being traded for Porzingis. What new Celtic made a statement? The Celtics traded away Kristaps Porzingis this summer, and one of the assets they received was Georges Niang. Niang has gotten a lot of criticism from the fanbase as they already are asking for him to be traded, despite not playing a single game in Boston yet. The hate dates back to a situation that happened in a playoff game between him and Jaylen Brown, but at the same time, fans aren't happy about the trade from a logistical standpoint. MORE: Explaining new Celtic Georges Niang's past feud with Jaylen Brown Niang was recently on "The OGs" podcast, where he addressed these feelings the fanbase has about him. Niang's statement was, "I'm a Boston kid. They don't give a s*t if I'm from Boston, they're like you just took my unicorn and replaced it with a minivan." Porzingis wasn't exactly healthy and available on the court all of the time, but he was way more enjoyable for the fanbase to have on their team, rather than what they expect out of Niang. Niang went on to say that either way, he is ready for the challenge that comes with playing in Boston, especially next season, as the Celtics will need players to step up while Jayson Tatum is out. MORE: A former Celtic got first ring in 2025 Summer League, but not in the way you'd expect Niang does hold the impressive NBA record of most wins among players since 2020. He's won 295 games, 4 games ahead of new teammate Jayson Tatum. Niang has had success on winning teams such as the Jazz, 76ers and Cavs. He hopes to make a positive impact on the Celtics, the same way he's done for other teams in the past few seasons. MORE NBA NEWS: Former Laker says being traded to Mavericks was best moment of his career Celtics 2025 draft pick is behind only Tacko Fall in shocking NBA Draft Combine measurement Rockets sign elite defensive guard with 3.5 steals per 36 minutes Trail Blazers sign promising 22-year old/2022 first-round pick Kings re-sign 44 percent three-point shooter
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brad Stevens Gets Honest On Why Celtics Traded Jrue Holiday And Kristaps Porzingis
Brad Stevens Gets Honest On Why Celtics Traded Jrue Holiday And Kristaps Porzingis originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The Boston Celtics look very different from the championship-winning roster they had two years ago. After making significant changes to their roster, the Celtics' status as title contenders has come into question. When asked to explain the reasoning behind these decisions, Celtics president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, offered a candid response: "Trades happened. I think that those are pretty obvious. And the basketball penalties associated with those are real. We've all talked about that. But we're fortunate because we like the guys we got back. You know, and I think that that's one of the things that, you know, we are excited about." After facilitating the trades for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics saved a significant amount of money in luxury tax payments. However, he expressed that it was challenging to see key players like Holiday and Porzingis on the way out. He continued: "Those are not easy trades to make. Those are not easy phone calls. Obviously, those guys have been around the league a long time. They knew the CBA. They knew that that was a high likelihood that they could be part of a move, and they were communicated that before. But it's still hard. We will miss them, and we are thankful for them.' Stevens also addressed the positive aspects of the trades and their offseason signings of Luka Garza and Josh Minott. He added: "We've been limited in what tools we can use, with where we are right around the second apron. We were looking for those guys on those contracts that have upside, and who are competitors, who are workers, who want to be good and haven't hit their peak yet, but we've seen something in them that gives them a chance to be very impactful." While the addition of Garza and Minott may be considered positive from a salary cap point of view, neither player is capable of moving the needle for the team next season. The impact of the trades has left the Celtics in a weakened position, especially considering that they will be without their superstar Jayson Tatum for much of next season as well. With significantly reduced roster strength, the upcoming season effectively appears to be a gap year for the Celtics. But the franchise has already set its sights on the future. Boston has reportedly emerged as a potential landing spot for recently waived star guard Damian Lillard. After being bought out by the Bucks, Lillard will enter free agency, where he has garnered attention from a handful of teams thus far. Considering that Lillard will also be recovering from injury next season, the timeline for his return aligns with Tatum's. On a reduced salary, Lillard could join the Celtics, effectively transforming them into a contender again. While there would be a severe need to bolster their frontcourt, Boston could find itself on the path to becoming title contenders again by following such a story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Cedric Maxwell expects a bad Boston Celtics season ahead
Former champion Boston Celtics forward and current Boston broadcaster Cedric Maxwell has seen the Celtics at their best and worst, both as a player and as a member of the media. So we ought to take him seriously when he is bracing for what he thinks will be a particularly bad season for the Celtics in their coming 2025-26 campaign. After Boston elected to trade away veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday while letting critical backup big man Luke Kornet walk in free agency to the San Antonio Spurs, it became pretty clear in a hurry that a soft tank for the team was in the cards. When they signed former Minnesota Timberwolves depth players Luka Garza and Josh Minott to help backfill the minutes Kornet, Holiday, and Porzingis will leave behind, it all but confirmed that this was the plan. The hosts of the CLNS Media "Cedric Maxwell" podcast, the eponymous Cedric Maxwell and his co-host John Zannis, took some time on an episode of their show to talk it over. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The best Kristaps Porzingis plays with the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are no longer the team of veteran big man Kristaps Porzingis, but he won a title with the legendary ball club, and banners flu forever. The Latvian center was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks as one of the Celtics moves to cut salary in order to dodge the considerable second apron status penalties of the NBA's current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) early in the 2025 offseason after a rough 2024-25 campaign with Boston marked by injury and illness. But he had plenty of amazing plays with the Celtics in the two seasons he suited up with the team after having been dealt there from the Washington Wizards in the 2023 NBA offseason. To honor the time he put in wearing green and white (and his help in finally hanging the elusive Banner 18), the man behind the eponymous "Tomasz Kordylewski (Timi)" YouTube channel put together a clip of his best plays while suting up for Boston. Check it out below! This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: The best Kristaps Porzingis plays with the Celtics
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics Send Parting Message After NBA Champion Joins New Team
Celtics Send Parting Message After NBA Champion Joins New Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A little over one year since winning their 18th NBA Championship, the Boston Celtics' roster is already beginning to look completely different. Earlier this offseason, Boston traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to the Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks, respectively. Furthermore, backup center Luke Kornet left in free agency to sign with the San Antonio Spurs, and veteran Al Horford is all but confirmed to leave the Celtics this summer, whether it be to sign with another team or to retire. While these were the biggest losses the Celtics have had this summer, they are not the only ones. Recently, Drew Peterson, who had been with the team since 2023, signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. On Wednesday, the Celtics sent a simple three-word message to the former NBA Champion: "Thank you, Drew ☘️" Across his two seasons with the Celtics, the Illinois native appeared in 28 games and started one of them. In those games, he averaged 2.3 points and 1.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes while shooting 44.7% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. Peterson never got much of an opportunity in Boston, spending most of his time in the G League. Still, he looked solid when he did play, even if it was only in a small sample size. Even with next year looking like a gap year for the Celtics as they retool their roster, it was unlikely that the 25-year-old was going to carve out a big role with the team. Now that he is in Charlotte and reunited with head coach Charles Lee, Peterson might have an opportunity to have a breakout year and establish himself as a legitimate NBA contributor. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
