Brad Stevens would obviously have preferred to drop Malcolm Brogdon rather than Marcus Smart to recover Kristaps Porzingis, but the Celtics president seemed convinced that he had to “rebalance” his workforce.
Against the Heat, the former coach of the team was visibly marked by the “stereotypical” play of his team, which relied a lot on its external address and was unable to punish defensive changes. With Kristaps Porzingis, the manager therefore thinks he has found “flexibility” to better punish opposing defenses.
“He can play defensively as we wish” thus explained Brad Stevens. “He is a deterrent near the circle and he is a basketball player with a lot of talent. We haven’t played a lot from the low post this season, but being able to get the ball into the post and just shoot over the defender after a defensive change, effectively, is valuable. Like being able to play inside the 3-point line, being able to shoot or dribble. This kind of things. He brings a lot to our team. »
$72 million over two years?
With an Al Horford who is now primarily a 3-point catch-and-shooter and a Robert Williams III who is only effective near the circle, Kristaps Porzingis must therefore bring a different threat.
“You can imagine, as I can imagine, some groups that we will now be able to put on the pitch, especially in terms of size, quite intriguing. And without losing any skills. »
No doubt Brad Stevens imagines groups with Kristaps Porzingis as a pivot, his size allowing him to provide deterrence under the circle, while also being able to punish defenses with his shot from the other side of the field. The prospect is indeed intriguing, and the leader therefore hopes to quickly extend the Latvian.
To validate his transfer, KP had to activate his “player option” at 36 million dollars for next season. Currently 27 years old, the 2m21 inside will therefore be an unprotected free agent in the summer of 2024 but he can be extended by the Celtics from July 6, for a maximum of 72 million dollars over two years.
| Kristaps Porzingis | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2015-16 | NYK | 72 | 28 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 83.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 14.3 |
| 2016-17 | NYK | 66 | 33 | 45.0 | 35.7 | 78.6 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 18.1 |
| 2017-18 | NYK | 48 | 32 | 43.9 | 39.5 | 79.3 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 22.7 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 57 | 32 | 42.7 | 35.2 | 79.9 | 1.8 | 7.7 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 20.4 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 43 | 31 | 47.6 | 37.6 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 7.0 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 20.1 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 51 | 29 | 45.9 | 31.0 | 86.7 | 2.0 | 6.1 | 8.1 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 20.2 |
| 2021-22 * | DAL | 34 | 30 | 45.1 | 28.3 | 86.5 | 1.9 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 19.2 |
| 2021-22 * | WAS | 17 | 28 | 47.5 | 36.7 | 87.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 22.1 |
| 2022-23 | WAS | 65 | 33 | 49.8 | 38.5 | 85.1 | 1.8 | 6.7 | 8.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 23.2 |
| Total | 402 | 31 | 45.3 | 35.9 | 82.7 | 1.8 | 6.2 | 8.0 | 1.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 19.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
