After the Washington Wizards had a three-team deal centering around sending center Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics fell through after the Los Angeles Clippers balked, the Memphis Grizzlies have stepped in and agreed to a deal that will see Washington acquire three players and a draft pick in the new deal, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
In the new multi-team deal, for sending Porzingis to Boston, Washington will receive point guard Tyus Jones from Memphis and forward Danilo Gallinari, center Mike Muscala, and a 2023 second-round pick (No. 35 overall) from Boston, per multiple reports.
The Celtics are sending guard Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies for the 25th overall selection in Thursday's NBA Draft and a 2024 first-round pick (originally Gold State's which has top-four protections).
Porzingis had a midnight deadline to opt-in on a $36 million player option with the Wizards for the 2023-24 season, which led to the speed of the second deal coming together after the first deal fell apart.
The first deal would have seen Porzingis go to Boston, but Washington would have reportedly received the 30th overall draft pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and Marcus Morris from the Los Angeles Clippers. However, the Clippers pulled out of the deal, reportedly after souring on the deal because of issues in the medical report for Boston guard Malcolm Brogdon, who was headed to LA.
Last season with Memphis, Jones averaged 10.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.5 rebounds shooting 37.1 percent on threes and 49.5 percent on twos in over 24.3 minutes over 80 games (22 starts). He had a 16.0 PER (15 is league average) on a 17.7 usage percentage with 3.4 offensive win shares and 2.3 defensive win shares and 1.7 value over replacement in 2022-23. The 27-year-old was the 24th overall pick in the 2015 draft and Jones is the most valuable asset Washington netted in the deal.
Gallinari signed a multi-year deal with Boston last offseason, but tore his ACL and did not play a single minute for the Celtics. The now 34-year-old averaged 11.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 38.1 percent from three and 48.5 percent on twos in 25.3 minutes in 66 games for Atlanta in the 2021-22 season.
Muscala, 31, came to the Celtics in a midseason trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder last. year. Over 63 total games last season, he averaged 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds while playing 15 minutes.
This is the second big trade for the rebuilding Wizards after sending Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, several second-round picks and first-round pick swaps.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kyle Kuzma declined his $13 million player option with Washington and elected free agency.
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