The three-team trade between the Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Clippers has fallen through, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal was supposed to send Wizards forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics, Malcolm Brogdon from the Celtics to the Clippers, and Marcus Morris and a first-round pick from the Clippers to the Wizards.
The Clippers raised concerns over Brogdon’s injury status, per NBA insider Marc Stein. The Celtics grew impatience and did not want the proposal to linger through Wednesday night. Thus, Boston pivoted away from including the Clippers in the trade, according to Wojnarowski.
Washington and Boston are working on other trade scenarios. However, both teams are against a midnight deadline for Porzingis to decide on his $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season.
Kristaps Porzingis expected to opt into the final year of his five-year, $158 million contract to facilitate the trade to the Celtics. If he opts out, he’ll become a free agent. The Celtics reportedly are prepared to give Porzingis a two-year extension.
Time is running out on the notion of Porzingis to the Celtics via a trade. One thing is for sure the Wizards won’t receive the No. 30th pick overall in Thursday’s NBA Draft from the Clippers.
With their rebuild started the Wizards are trying to acquire draft compensation as it trades veterans. Washington has agreed to move Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns in a package that would send Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, two draft swamps, and several second-round draft picks to the Wizards.
The Wizards are against the clock to find a trade with Boston for Porzingis or risk losing out on the 7-footer with no compensation in return.
