At the top of Brad Stevens’ “to-do” list this offseason was getting the Celtics out of the NBA’s daunting second apron. And in less than 24 hours, he’s done just that.
Less than a full day after the Celtics sent Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks, they offloaded Kristaps Porzingis and the $30.7 million he’s owed in the final year of his deal. The three-team trade with the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets sent Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang and a second-rounder to the Celtics.
The deal moves Boston out of the second apron by roughly $4.5 million, which would signal there are still more moves to come.
This story will be updated.