Despite achieving the ultimate goal of winning the NBA championship, the Kristaps Porzingis era in Boston didn't fully live up to the expectations. The Celtics enjoyed impressive stints from Porzingis when he was healthy, but the Latvian All-Star struggled with availability, missing crucial time both in the regular season and the playoffs. When the Celtics were forced to make salary-shedding moves this offseason, Porzingis' fate in Boston was sealed as the 29-year-old found himself traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
Even though this will be his fifth team in ten years in the NBA, Porzingis is happy with where he ended up. Speaking with reporters before participating in EuroBasket 2025 with Latvia, Porzingis highlighted how good a situation Atlanta is for him.
"Of course, the championship win and all that helped too. But I expected the trade, so it didn’t come as a surprise. And I ended up in a place that’s actually a good situation for me—not necessarily one I dreamed of, but it’s a strong fit. So overall, I’m very happy."Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis underlined the value of winning a championship in Boston and how much he enjoyed his time with the Celtics. He then added that he was expecting a trade, most likely to the San Antonio Spurs. The Hawks' interest solidified later in the offseason, and despite it not being on his radar earlier, Porzingis welcomed the new landing spot.
This allows the 7-foot-2 center to revive his career and have a fresh start. When he is healthy, Porzingis is still a true difference-maker as one of a handful of players who can space the floor on one end and protect the rim on the other. He is entering the final year of his contract, giving him more of an incentive to be at the peak of his powers to land himself a lucrative extension.
The Hawks are the right combination of talent and fit for Porzingis. His pick-and-pop ability should thrive next to Trae Young, while his rim protection could give Atlanta a much-needed defensive anchor behind their star point guard. With the offseason additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard, the Hawks also have a chance to be significantly better than the Celtics next season, giving Porzingis another reason to be happy with his new team. Whether the on-court product is as good as it is on paper, however, remains to be seen.