Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and Brooklyn Nets completed a monumental three-way trade on June 24, 2025, that rocked the NBA. No. Thursday's news involved a huge rebuild for the Celtics with Thursday night's signing to a series of trades. 

Quoted by ESPN's Shams Charania, the deal sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round draft pick to Atlanta, Terance Mann and the No. 22 draft pick to Brooklyn, and Georges Niang and a second-round draft pick to Boston. The trade, following Boston's Holiday trade to Portland, is a huge rebuild for the Celtics and smart retooling for all parties. 

Here, we dissect the trade's effect on each team and give statistical information on the main players.

 

Boston Celtics Trade Impact: Salary Cap Relief and Roster Reset

The Celtics trading away one of the pillars of their 2024 championship run in Kristaps Porzingis is mainly for financial reasons to help alleviate a forecasted $500 million combined payroll and luxury tax payment for the 2025-26 season. 

By shipping out Porzingis' $30.7 million expiring contract and a second-round pick to Atlanta and getting back Georges Niang's $8.2 million expiring contract and a second-round pick, Boston saves around $22.5 million in salaries and, combined with the Holiday trade, a reported $180 million in luxury tax paid. 

The trade puts the Celtics $4.5 million under the NBA's second apron ($207.8 million), giving them relief they so desperately needed on the salary cap.

Massachusetts-born Georges Niang is a 32-year-old career 39.9% three-point shooter who is depth at power forward off the bench. Niang averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 40.6% three-point shooting over 79 games with Cleveland and Atlanta in the 2024-25 season. 

His shooting helps round out Boston's offense, but his limited defensive versatility might restrict his role, especially with Jayson Tatum missing most of the 2025-26 season due to a ruptured Achilles. The second-round draft pick (Cleveland's 2031 choice) offers negligible draft value, which could prove valuable for future deals or re-signings of veterans like Al Horford or Luke Kornet.

But to abandon Porzingis, who averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocked shots, including 41.2% of his three-point attempts, in 42 games during the previous season, is a talent loss. 

His medical history, including a "post-viral syndrome" that abbreviated his playoff scoring, and Boston's reduced title aspirations sans Tatum probably necessitated this cost-cutting exercise. Reddit fan reactions are split, some appalled by Niang's acquisition on the basis of the latter's off-court controversies in the past, others viewing the economic respite as a much-needed reboot. 

The Celtics themselves are not out of the woods, with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White said to be next on the list for trades, perhaps foreshadowing lottery-destination season for 2025-26.

 

Atlanta Hawks Trade Impact: Betting Big on Porzingis' Upside

The Hawks' signing of Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round draft choice solves their frontcourt size, rim protection, and floor spacing deficiency. The 7'2" All-Star of last season, who averaged 21.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks in the past three seasons, hitting 39% of his threes, is a high-ceiling acquisition. 

Healthy, Porzingis complements Trae Young's passing and co-exists with Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu, providing Atlanta with a deep, multi-position roster. 

His $30.7 million expiring contract provides cap flexibility, as well, as Atlanta can choose to re-sign him (for potentially $35 million annually) or allow him to walk in an attempt to open giant cap space in 2026.

Porzingis' injury history is a gigantic risk, though. He appeared in only 99 of the 164 regular-season games over the course of the past two seasons for Boston, sitting out because of ankle surgery and a "post-viral syndrome" that hindered his playoff play. 

The Hawks sacrificed Terance Mann, Georges Niang, and the No. 22 draft selection (which they had obtained originally in the Dejounte Murray deal with the Lakers) to obtain Porzingis at a comparatively low price for a player of his caliber. 

This deal robs Atlanta of the No. 13 selection and the 2025 second-round pick but restricts their short-term draft assets while speculating on a win-now Eastern Conference backdrop. With Trae Young back from his injury and Dyson Daniels extension-eligible, the Hawks are hoping for the health of Porzingis to build prime playoff value.

 

Brooklyn Nets Trade Impact: Draft Capital and Versatility

The Nets emerge as facilitators in this deal, employing their cap space to acquire Terance Mann's three-year, $47 million contract ($15.5 million annually through 2027-28) and receive the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Mann is a veteran playoff wing with depth but still hasn't become a go-to fantasy or on-court option, averaging decent production over the last few seasons. 

The actual prize for Brooklyn is the No. 22 pick, which adds their draft total to five first-rounders (Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26, and 27) in 2025. The excess puts GM Sean Marks in position to trade up for a high-ceiling prospect like Jeremiah Fears or Ace Bailey or trade future picks for assets in the future.

Brooklyn is of the long-term rebuild type, making use of their cap room to bank draft money without sacrificing any assets in this trade. The No. 22 pick, which they received in the Dejounte Murray trade from the Lakers, is an addition to their hand to mold the draft or trade elsewhere. 

While Mann's contract is a commitment, his roster flexibility as a two-way wing does not make his contract an anchor, and the Nets' draft-oriented approach tells us that they are setting the stage for a roster shakeup of some sort, perhaps even a star in future trades.

 

Kristaps Porzingis Stats

Former All-Star and 2024 NBA champion Kristaps Porzingis has been a two-way big man force when on the court. His career numbers and 2024-25 season stats with the Boston Celtics are as follows:

  • Career Averages (2015-24): 19.6 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.7 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 45.6% FG, 36.6% 3P, 82.7% FT, 30.8 MPG in 463 games.
  • 2024-25 Season (BOS): 19.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.4 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 48.3% FG, 41.2% 3P, 85.5% FT, 29.7 MPG in 42 games.

Porzingis' All-Star three-point shooting (41.2% on threes on six attempts per contest in 2024-25) and rim protection are a plus, but his injury record (playing 60+ games in just one of nine seasons) is problematic for Atlanta. 

 

Georges Niang Stats

Hometown veteran forward Georges Niang, a three-point shooter, is a hometown consideration for Boston. His career statistics and 2024-25 season statistics are as follows

  • Career Averages (2016-24): 7.0 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.4 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 44.3% FG, 39.9% 3P, 84.2% FT, 18.2 MPG in 536 games.
  • 2024-25 Season (CLE/ATL): 9.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 46.1% FG, 40.6% 3P, 85.0% FT, 22.3 MPG in 79 games.

Niang's shooting and knowledge of the Boston area make him a low-risk acquisition, though his defense might cap his role. 

 

Terance Mann Stats

The Nets sign Terance Mann, a utility wing, as an add-on player. His career stats (individual 2024-25 statistics unavailable are):

  • Career Numbers (2019-24): 8.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 48.2% FG, 37.2% 3P, 79.2% FT, 23.0 MPG in 347 games.

Mann's playoff experience and two-way scoring provide depth but his $15.5 million annually salary until 2027-28 is an expensive bet on a bench player.

This three-team deal represents differing priorities from each franchise. The Celtics are concerned about financial flexibility, getting rid of Porzingis' cap hit to not be punished by luxury taxes and adding Niang as a rotation player. The Hawks are rolling the dice on Porzingis' health to improve their situation in the Eastern Conference, pairing him with Trae Young and an up-and-coming core. 

The Nets, as enablers, strengthen their draft assets with the No. 22 selection and complement Mann's multi-tooliness, paving the way for more shuffling in a draft-rich 2025. Both sides get their short-term objectives, but the trade's result will depend on Porzingis' long-term stamina, Boston's subsequent maneuvers, and Brooklyn's draft ambitions.

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