Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis could be joining the Boston Celtics as part of a three-time trade that would including the Clippers. Nick Wass/Associated Press
According to multiple reports on Wednesday, the Boston Celtics are close to completing a trade to land Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a massive three-team trade that also includes the Clippers.
The Clippers would receive Malcolm Brogdon from the Celtics, while the Wizards would get Marcus Morris and draft compensation.
The trade was first reported by The Athletic, which described the deal as a “high possibility” and was close to being completed as of late Wednesday afternoon as the three teams worked through the details. Porzingis, a 7-foot-3 center, averaged a career-high 23.2 points this past season. Before a trade can be completed Porzingis would need to exercise his $36 million player option for next season, and he faced a Wednesday deadline to do so.
If he exercises his option, Porzingis would become eligible for a two-year, $77 million extension in July.
• Duke assistant coach Amile Jefferson is leaving the Blue Devils to become an assistant with the Boston Celtics, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the Celtics haven’t publicly discussed their staff search. The move was first reported by 247sports.
Jefferson, 30, worked under Jon Scheyer, who was in his first season facing the daunting task of replacing retired Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski. Jefferson returned to Duke in July 2021 after a four-year professional playing career, with stops in the NBA, then served as director of player development in Krzyzewski’s farewell season.
Jefferson’s five year career as a Blue Devils player included 124 wins and the 2015 NCAA title, the fifth and final of Krzyzewski’s career. In his final college season, he played with current Celtics star Jayson Tatum during Tatum’s lone season at Duke.
For the Celtics, it’s the latest move under president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to add new blood to the staff of Coach Joe Mazzulla.
ESPN reported earlier this month that Milwaukee Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee and 76ers assistant Sam Cassell are both expected to join Mazzulla’s staff next season.
NUGGETS: The NBA champions traded into the first round of the draft, acquiring the 29th overall pick from the Indiana Pacers.
The Nuggets will also receive the 32nd pick. Indiana gets the 40th pick from Denver, along with a first-round selection in 2024.
• Bruce Brown is set to become a free agent after declining his $6.8 million player option with the Nuggets, a person with knowledge of the decision said.
Brown signed with Denver last summer and became an integral piece off the bench for the Nuggets. He can play either guard position or small forward, and he averaged 12 points and four rebounds in the playoffs.
Nuggets Coach Michael Malone said at the Nuggets’ championship parade last week the team wants to keep Brown. But Denver can’t offer him more than $7.8 million for next season.
SUNS: Phoenix Coach Frank Vogel announced his coaching staff for the coming season, which includes associate head coach Kevin Young and former NBA head coach David Fizdale.
Young was the associate head coach the past two seasons under former Suns coach Monty Williams, who was fired after four seasons following the team’s second-round loss in the playoffs to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets. Young was a candidate to replace Williams before the franchise ultimately decided to go with Vogel, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship in 2020.
Fizdale has been the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks. He spent the past season as an associate general manager for the Utah Jazz.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
