The Boston Celtics are approaching a crucial period regarding Kristaps Porzingis’s future with the team, as the 7-foot-2 forward may be on the move before the 2025-26 NBA season. The Phoenix Suns have emerged as a new contender interested in Porzingis, adding another layer to trade negotiations as Boston continues to explore options for managing salary cap concerns and reshaping their roster after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury. This potential deal is closely tied to the broader financial and strategic moves both franchises are considering.
Cap Challenges and Celtics’ Roster Adjustments
Porzingis is entering the final year of his two-year contract, which carries a cap hit of just under $31 million for the 2025-26 season. Alongside Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser, Porzingis is viewed as a likely candidate to free up cap space for the Celtics in the offseason. Boston won the 2024 championship following his acquisition in 2023, but the team now faces tough choices about how to balance talent retention with financial limits. Porzingis’s contract and recent health issues have fueled the Celtics’ interest in assessing trade possibilities.
Phoenix Suns Eye Frontcourt Reinforcements Amid Durant Trade Talks
The Suns are actively conducting background evaluations on Porzingis as they aim to bolster their frontcourt depth. With Kevin Durant seeking a trade and established scorers like Bradley Beal and Devin Booker on the roster, adding Porzingis could help ease the impact of any potential Durant departure. According to Jake Fischer, Phoenix’s scouting of Porzingis coincides with broader efforts to create roster flexibility and improve their competitive outlook.
“I’ve also heard that Phoenix has done some background work on Kristaps Porzingis with Boston known to be exploring its trade options up and down the roster,”
—Jake Fischer, NBA Insider
“Sources say you can likewise add Phoenix to the list of teams that had been hoping to elbow its way into Myles Turner’s free agency this summer.”
—Jake Fischer, NBA Insider
Complex Salary Cap Situation Could Delay Trade Negotiations
The Suns face their own financial limitations due to second apron penalties, which complicate acquiring Porzingis immediately. A trade involving Kevin Durant could reduce these restrictions, but until Phoenix and Boston resolve their respective salary cap obstacles, finalizing a deal centered on Porzingis remains uncertain. This delay may conflict with the Celtics’ desire to quickly finalize their 2025-26 roster, as waiting on external resolutions would hamper their offseason planning.
Multiple Teams Emerging as Potential Landing Spots
In addition to Phoenix, other franchises such as Utah, Brooklyn, Golden State, and the Lakers have appeared in trade speculation surrounding Porzingis. Each team presents a different dynamic in terms of assets exchanged and strategic fit. For Boston, the decision involves weighing Porzingis’s current value, influenced by a late-season illness that impacted his performance, against the need for roster flexibility.
Celtics Contemplate Retaining Porzingis at a Reduced Cost
Recent reports suggest that the Celtics are not entirely committed to trading Porzingis despite mounting rumors. With limited options in the frontcourt following injury setbacks, keeping Porzingis and renegotiating his contract at a lower price point is under consideration. Chris Mannix noted that while Porzingis is available in trade talks, Boston may prefer to “nibble around the fringes” and find a way to retain him longer term.
“I’ve also heard, ‘We’re going to nibble around the fringes,’
—Chris Mannix, NBA Analyst
“If you want Holiday, you can have him. Porzingis, I think is available, but they’d like to get Porzingis back long-term at a lower price point on his next deal.”
—Chris Mannix, NBA Analyst
Porzingis’s Recent Performance Highlights
During the 2024-25 season, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds over 42 games, shooting 48.3 percent from the field and a career-best 41.2 percent from three-point range. His offensive efficiency demonstrated his potential value on the court, even as health concerns cast doubt on his ongoing role with the Celtics.
Outlook for the 2025-26 Season and Beyond
The outcome of Kristaps Porzingis’s trade status will significantly affect the Celtics’ frontcourt composition and salary cap management heading into the 2025 season. Meanwhile, the Suns’ interest reflects their ongoing effort to recalibrate following Kevin Durant’s trade request, potentially reshaping their lineup around established stars and new acquisitions. As negotiations unfold, both teams must navigate complex financial and roster challenges before final decisions emerge.