Boston Celtics trade rumors: Would Kristaps Porzingis be the right fit?

How well would Kristaps Porzingis fit in with the Boston Celtics if they were able to trade for the New York Knicks unicorn?

Danny Ainge is a busy man for the Boston Celtics right now.

After trading the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NBA draft, Boston has been mentioned as a logical trade partner for stars like Paul George and Jimmy Butler, while Anthony Davis has also been listed as a player the Celtics would love to add.

Now, we can add Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis to the mix of speculation. This should come as no surprise from the New York Knicks.

With Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose‘s future with New York uncertain, the Knicks are ready for a shake-up. Not to mention that Porzingis skipped his exit meeting with Phil Jackson because he was frustrated with the overall direction of the team, or lack thereof.

Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical first broke the news that Phil Jackson would not be opposed to listening to offers for Porzingis.

Porzingis’ brother, Janis, said on Tuesday that Kristaps prefers to stay in New York, despite the drama from last season, per Ian Begley of ESPN.

"“Despite how the Knicks are treating their players, Kris wants to stay in New York. He loves the city and he loves the fans and he wants to win with this team. If he’s going to be traded, he’s going to play out his contact and decide his future on his own.”"

It should be reassuring for New York that Porzingis wants to stay with the Knicks. Although, that hasn’t stopped Phil Jackson from considering a future without Kristaps. According to Wojnarowski, Phil had a meeting with Arizona power forward Lauri Markkanen, a possible replacement for Porzingis.

The New York Daily News broke the story that many teams are interested in trading for Porzingis, including the Boston Celtics. All of those draft picks in Ainge’s back pocket could come in handy.

Who should Boston trade for Porzingis?

The first question to ponder is, what does Boston have to give up to acquire the young star? Chad Ford of ESPN offered his opinion on who Boston should offer to New York for the Zinger.

I’m glad that Chad Ford isn’t Danny Ainge. Giving up the third pick (probably Josh Jackson), a 2018 first round pick, and Isaiah Thomas for Porzingis is not a great deal. This deal is much more favorable for Boston if they can trade anyone except Thomas. He is coming off of the most prolific scoring season for a Boston player since Larry Bird. Say what you want about his defense, but Isaiah makes the Celtics’ train go.

Avery Bradley is also one the most important pieces in Boston’s rotation. Marcus Smart and Jae Crowder are capable defenders, but Bradley is the best defender on the team. In a league where every top-10 team seems to have an All-Star point guard, Bradley’s contributions to the defensive end can’t be overstated.

Boston should look to trade Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jae Crowder, Terry Rozier or Jonas Jerebko instead. Even a combination of two of these five players puts Boston in a better position than trading away Thomas.

Is Porzingis a good fit for Boston?

Yes, with Porzingis’ seven-foot frame, and his ability to play at power forward or center position, he’s a good fit for any team. The 21-year-old is coming off of the best season of his career, averaging 18.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Defensively, Kristaps Porzingis gives Boston a much-needed rim protector. The Celtics averaged 4.1 blocks per game last season, just 23rd in the NBA. Adding Kristaps’ two blocks per game to that mark would hypothetically move Boston into the top-five in blocked shots per game.

Offensively, Boston gets a stretch-4 who can knock down the outside shot and finish at the rim. If you foul Porzingis, he typically converts at the line with an 81.1 percent career free throw percentage. His efficiency from beyond the arc at 35.7 percent will force opposing big men to spend more time outside of the paint, opening up driving lanes for Isaiah Thomas.

Next: 5 potential Paul George trades

Porzingis has a very friendly $4.5 million salary heading into the 2017-18 season. Signing him would make Boston an even more attractive destination for free agents like Gordon Hayward.