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Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis to have surgery on ailing leg

Tue Jun 18 10:49am ET
Field Level Media

Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis told ESPN that he will undergo surgery on his left leg and expects a recovery process of a "few months."

Porzingis suffered a torn medial retinaculum allowing dislocation of the posterior tibialis tendon in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. He sat out Games 3 and 4 in Dallas and returned to record five points and one rebound in 16 minutes in the Celtics' 106-88 championship-clinching victory over the Mavericks on Monday.

Porzingis admitted that he had some concern about returning to the court on Monday, however that was outweighed by his pursuit of the title.

"Of course. I think something could have happened, for sure, especially compensating now on the other leg now, which I just came back from," said Porzingis, referencing a calf injury that sidelined him for 10 games during the playoffs.


"There was definitely some added risk, but I didn't care. I was like, 'I want to give everything I can and then fix it after if I need to.'"

Porzingis, 28, had averages of 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks across 57 games (all starts) during the regular season. Boston acquired the big man in a trade with the Washington Wizards this past offseason.

Porzingis also played for the Mavericks from 2019-22.

Player Notes
Malcolm Brogdon Thu Jun 27 7:40am

Washington Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon might not remain on the team for long. After he was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that Brogdon could be moved elsewhere in a trade. Washington has fully entered a rebuilding mode, and it doesn't make sense for them to keep ahold of a 31-year-old veteran. Especially someone like Brogdon, who should have decent trade value as a recent Sixth Man of the Year award winner. The Virginia product seems to be on the move every summer these days. But he could still be useful to several teams with career averages of 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.

Kevin Durant Thu Jun 27 7:40am

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has drawn heavy links with the Houston Rockets this week, but he isn't expected to leave the team after his first full season in Arizona. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, there is a "zero percent" chance Phoenix will move Durant this offseason. The Suns reportedly still have a big belief in the current roster's ability to compete for a championship, and the Big Three of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal will remain intact under new head coach Mike Budenholzer. Durant will turn 36 in September, but he continues to perform at a very high level and should be expected to do so again in 2024-25.

Darius Garland Thu Jun 27 7:20am

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland appears ready to remain on the team. Following Cleveland's second-round exit against Boston, multiple reports suggested he will be looking for a change of scenery if Donovan Mitchell ties himself long-term with the franchise. Mitchell is now on the cusp of agreeing to an extension with the Cavaliers. But according to ESPN's Zach Lowe, this won't affect Garland's future on the team. Speaking on the most recent episode of The Lowe Post, Lowe said Garland "is cool with the current situation." Garland ran into health issues this season and took a step back, averaging 18.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 1.3 steals. However, he was an All-Star just two years ago and should be capable of getting back to the level.

Kristaps Porzingis Thu Jun 27 7:10am

Boston Celtics forward/center Kristaps Porzingis (leg) is set to miss the start of next season. Porzingis suffered a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon during the NBA Finals and needs surgery. "Kristaps, after his surgery, we don't know exactly when he'll be back," said Celtics president Brad Stevens on The Ryen Russillo Podcast. "But, you know, he'll probably miss at least the very start of the season." Luckily for Boston, they have Al Horford waiting in the wings, and he's proven himself to be a very capable deputy to Porzingis. Stevens also suggested that the Celtics might experiment with different things without Porzingis. "And so that'll be a great opportunity for us to do things different and have to find different solutions and those types of things that come with it," Stevens said.

Malcolm Brogdon Wed Jun 26 9:00pm

The Washington Wizards acquired guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night in exchange for forward Deni Avdija. The 2023 NBA Sixth Man of the Year averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds with the Trail Blazers last season. He also shot 41.2% from behind the arc. However, due to injury, Brogdon was limited to only 39 games in Portland. Nagging ailments have been the norm for him throughout his career. Although the 31-year-old can play at an All-Star level, fantasy managers will look in other directions until he proves he can stay healthy.

Nicolas Claxton Wed Jun 26 7:20pm

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton plans to sign a four-year, $100 million deal to remain with the team. The Nets are heading toward a rebuild. However, Claxton remains a pivotal piece of the Nets' long-term plans. He's played at least 71 games in the last two seasons, and he finished the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while shooting 62.9% from the field. It's reasonable to assume the 25-year-old will improve, especially on the scoring end, if Brooklyn can't bring in a reliable scorer to replace Mikal Bridges, who was traded to the Knicks on Tuesday evening.

Deni Avdija Wed Jun 26 7:00pm

The Portland Trail Blazers acquired forward Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night in exchange for guard Malcolm Brogdon, the No. 14 overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, and a 2029 draft pick. The 23-year-old spent four seasons with the Wizards. But he easily had the best year of his career in 2023-24, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. He also shot 37.9% from behind the arc. Avdija still has plenty of untapped potential, and there aren't many players in the National Basketball Association who are more durable.

OG Anunoby Wed Jun 26 6:30pm

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, New York Knicks forwardOG Anunobyintends to sign a five-year, $212.5 million contract extension with the Knicks. The extension includes a player option and trade kicker. He became an unrestricted free agent bydeclining the player optionfor the final season of the four-year, $72 million contract he inked with Toronto in 2020. Anunoby averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 34.9 minutes during 23 contests for New York in the regular season. The 26-year-old was sidelined for most of the final two months of the regular season with a loose bone fragment in his right elbowthat required surgery.

Obi Toppin Wed Jun 26 5:50pm

According to Tony East of SI.com, the Indiana Pacers have submitted a qualifying offer to forwardObi Toppin, making him a restricted free agent. Toppin is coming off a solid postseason, during which he suited up for 17 games and averaged 20.2 minutes, 10.9 points, and 4.4 rebounds, helping the Pacers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. During the regular season, he was a part of one of the best benches, as Indiana was the highest-scoring second unit in the league.

Bam Adebayo Wed Jun 26 3:00pm

According to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, Miami Heat centerBam Adebayo is expected to sign a three-year contract extension worth $166 million to stay in South Beach. Adebayo has two years remaining on his current deal. However, the 26-year-old is coming off another excellent season, averaging 19.3 points and a career-high 10.4 rebounds while shooting 35.7% from behind the arc. He will go early in fantasy drafts for the upcoming season as he is one of the most dominant centers in the NBA.

Tim Hardaway Jr. Wed Jun 26 8:50am

Dallas Mavericks guard/forward Tim Hardaway Jr. has been linked with a move back to the Eastern Conference. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Detroit Pistons have emerged as a potential trade destination for the former Knicks and Hawks player. It's hard to imagine Hardaway Jr. staying in Dallas for another campaign after he fell out of the rotation in the 2024 playoffs. However, he enjoyed a solid regular season, averaging 14.4 points, and could definitely do a good job for several other teams.

Josh Giddey Wed Jun 26 8:50am

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey is eager to get started with his new team and believes he can take his game to another level in the Windy City. "It was going to be hard to tap into my full potential, in my opinion, on a team like [Oklahoma City] with so many talented guys who needed the ball in their hands, who were great with the ball in their hands," Giddey said. "A change of scenery was going to maybe unlock more of that for me." Giddey's fantasy stock plummeted in 2023-24, but the 21-year-old should get plenty of opportunities to turn things around in Chicago.

Trae Young Wed Jun 26 8:40am

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young could be one of the biggest names on the move in the NBA this offseason. Sources have told Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer that three teams are "appealing"to the talented playmaker, who has averaged a double-double in back-to-back seasons. These teams are the Lakers, Pelicans, and Spurs. Young seems like a good fit for all three teams and would definitely add a lot to them. However, engineering a move for him won't be easy, as the Hawks likely won't want to give up the three-time All-Star cheaply.

Isaiah Hartenstein Wed Jun 26 8:30am

New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein has been heavily linked with a move elsewhere, and it's beginning to look like the team won't be able to hang on to him. Following the Knicks' big trade for Mikal Bridges, NBA insider Ian Begley reported that sources have told him it's become "increasingly unlikely" that the Knicks will be able to retain Hartenstein. The 26-year-old big man is expected to be a "top" target for several teams in free agency. With Mitchell Robinson reportedly on the trade block, New York's center rotation could be very different in 2024-25.

Kevin Durant Wed Jun 26 8:20am

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is drawing interest from the Houston Rockets. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets want to trade for Durant after acquiring the rights of the Suns' couple of draft picks from Brooklyn. Wojnarowski added that the Rockets might even be looking at adding Phoenix's younger superstar, Devin Booker. However, the Suns have no plans for a big trade at present, as the franchise remains in win-now mode. Durant's move to H-Town would be fascinating, to say the least, in real life and from a fantasy perspective. But it looks like it currently remains only a dream for the Rockets fans.

Bojan Bogdanovic Tue Jun 25 9:40pm

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks agreed to trade forward Bojan Bogdanovic (foot, wrist) and a plethora of draft picks to the Nets on Tuesday night. In exchange, New York will receive forward Mikal Bridges. The 35-year-old began last season in Detroit before he was shipped to New York ahead of the trade deadline. However, his production significantly declined with the Knicks, and he finished the regular season by averaging 10.4 points and 2.0 rebounds. Even worse, Bogdanovic suffered multiple injuries and underwent foot and wrist surgery this offseason. It's unknown what kind of role the veteran will have in Brooklyn. But if anything, the Nets will get an expiring contract.

Mikal Bridges Tue Jun 25 9:20pm

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets traded forward Mikal Bridges to the Knicks on Tuesday night. In exchange, Brooklyn will receive multiple unprotected first-round draft picks and forward Bojan Bogdanovic. The former Villanova Wildcat took a step backward in 2023-24, averaging 19.6 points, 6.5 fewer than he had in 27 games in Brooklyn during the 2022-23 campaign. While the Nets had scoffed at numerous offers from other clubs around the National Basketball Association, Bridges will now reunite with former Villanova teammates Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. Without question, the move makes New York an even bigger threat in the Eastern Conference, considering Bridges is the most durable player in the league. He was also in the running for a Defensive Player of the Year award at one point in his career. At any rate, the 27-year-old has plenty to offer fantasy managers, even though he'll have more competition for scoring opportunities in New York.

Mouhamadou Gueye Tue Jun 25 4:10pm

According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, the Toronto Raptors waived forward Mouhamadou Gueye on Tuesday. In March, the 25-year-old Gueye signed a two-way contract and played in 11 Raptors regular season games. In those contests, he didn't make an impact on the court or in fantasy, averaging 10.9 minutes, 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks. He spent most of last season in the NBA G League, playing in 26 games for the Raptors 905.

Kristaps Porzingis Tue Jun 25 3:20pm

Boston Celtics forward/centerKristaps Porzingis(leg) will not play in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris, France, as he will have surgery "in the coming days,"the team announced on Tuesday. Porzingis suffered a torn retinaculum and a dislocated posterior tibialis tendon during Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Although he missed Games 3 and 4, he made a comeback in Game 5, helping the Celtics secure the NBA title with a victory over the Dallas Mavericks. He had hoped to compete in Paris for his country, Latvia, but the Celtics stated that the injury "doesn't allow for consistent play at the level required for Olympic competition." A specific timeline for recovery is unknown and won't be known until after the surgery.

De'Aaron Fox Tue Jun 25 12:10pm

Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox isn't expected to ink an extension with the team this year. According to The Athletic, the 2023 All-Star wants to see how the roster takes shape for the long haul before committing himself to the Kings. There is also the added incentive of earning a bigger deal if Fox makes an All-NBA team. His current $163 million contract has two more years left to run. Fox has taken big strides as a player in recent seasons, with the Kings' playing style suiting him like a glove. The 26-year-old averaged career-highs in points (26.6), rebounds (4.6), and steals (2.0) in 2023-24, leading the league in the latter category.