There were two factors that helped the Atlanta Hawks land former Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis this offseason. The first and most important was a healthy level of desperation from Boston to avoid the second apron. With Jayson Tatum done before the 2025-26 season ever begins, the team has little hope of contending for anything of note. With this in mind, it couldn't be debated that it was time to cut costs and go in another direction.
While this is the biggest part of why the Hawks landed the star, there is the concerning playoff performance as well. It was hard to find many trade partners willing to give top dollar or even to take on the contract with what Porzingis put on the floor when the games mattered most. It was clear that the center wasn't healthy and something was preventing what had been an impressive season from continuing.
Kristaps Porzingis Proving Himself Healthy to Hawks Fans
Whatever it was that was ailing the former Celtic seems to no longer be an issue with Latvia announcing the star will continue representing them in the 2025 offseason. The Eurobasket roster, including the current Hawk, is a great sign that everything is okay and there aren't any issues moving into next season.
It was fair to wonder if it was a problem that would haunt Porzingis after just how awful things went in the playoffs. However, this news is enough to reassure concerned Atlanta fans and give an offseason look at the new addition. There is an argument to be made that this is the most talented player the organization has offered Trae Young in his career.
It is John Collins, Dejounte Murray, and Porzingis in that debate. No matter where you fall in this discussion there is no denying that the offseason trade makes the Hawks unquestionably better. Not only this but the news of Porzingis joining the Latvia roster takes away the one remaining concern Atlanta fans were carrying.
During an exciting 2025 offseason, it is hard not to feel hopeful that this is a roster finally capable of competing in what is a wide-open Eastern Conference.