Porzingis' expected destination revealed.
Kristaps Porzingis Reportedly Almost Teamed Up With Victor Wembanyama On Spurs Before Celtics-Hawks Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
As the 2025 NBA offseason heated up, the Boston Celtics moved swiftly to trim payroll and recalibrate around a roster facing a long-term Achilles absence for Jayson Tatum.
One of the headline transactions came on July 7, when Boston shipped Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team trade also involving the Brooklyn Nets.
In that deal, the Hawks acquired Porzingis and a 2026 second-round pick, the Celtics received sharpshooter Georges Niang and a 2031 second-rounder and Brooklyn added wing Terance Mann plus the rights to No. 22 pick Drake Powell.
While the move itself was broadly anticipated, as Boston needed to shed salary to avoid second-apron luxury tax penalties, Porzingis allegedly revealed he had prepared for a different destination.
"After the season, I spoke to my agent and kind of expected that one or more of us would be traded," he reportedly told HoopsWire. "For a while, I thought I might end up with the Spurs, but then Atlanta came in—and that was a nice surprise. It was out of my hands."
The Unicorn’s Rise: Porzingis' NBA Career and Health Hurdles
Standing 7-foot-2 and nicknamed "The Unicorn" for his rare blend of floor spacing, shot-blocking and scoring versatility, Porzingis entered the NBA after being selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015.
Entering his 10th NBA season, he’s now suited up for five teams in the Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Celtics and Hawks. He won a 2024 NBA championship, earned a 2018 All-Star nod and All-Rookie First Team honors in 2016.
In his two seasons with Boston, Porzingis averaged 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.8 blocks per game on a career-best 50.2% shooting from the field and 39.2% of his 5.5 three-point attempts.
That floor spacing proved pivotal in Boston’s title run, yet his availability dipped after suffering a calf strain in Game 4 and then a torn medial retinaculum in the NBA Finals, limiting him to just seven playoff games and requiring surgery that forced him to miss the first month of the 2024-25 NBA season.
Spurs Whispers vs. Atlanta Reality
Long before Atlanta’s offer materialized, league insiders flagged the San Antonio Spurs as a potential suitor.
NBA insider Jake Fischer noted that San Antonio "held some exploratory talks" about acquiring the 29-year-old big man, envisioning a frontcourt pairing alongside Victor Wembanyama.
Ultimately, however, the Spurs never formalized an offer and Porzingis ended up in a Hawks uniform rather than the Alamo City’s silver and black.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
