The Atlanta Hawks are 37 games into the 2025 NBA season, however Kristaps Porzingis, who the Hawks acquired in a three-team trade over the summer, has suited up for just 14 of them as he has been dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and on Monday, 92-9 The Game’s Mike Bell and Beau Morgan were joined by Atlanta Hawks Radio Network analyst, Mike Conti, to discuss the impact Porzingis’ absence.
“I have to be honest Mike, in the limited amount I’ve seen Porzingis, I think of him more attractive as a piece to deal because of the expiring contract,” Bell said as he shared why he believes Porzingis’ limited time on the court makes him more valuable in trade compared to his impact he has had for the Hawks and their season.
“That is his biggest attribute, positive attribute right now, is that the contract is very tradeable,” Conti said as he explained why he was in agreeance with Bell on Porzingis’ $30 million one-year dear with the Hawks being of value due to the potential of easily being able to move on from the center if that indeed the direction they choose to go.
“I think Onsi Saleh along knew that, yea there was a little bit of a gamble and risk in bringing in Kristaps Porzingis because of his injury history, because of the fact that if you get more than 40 games a year out of him, you’re basically playing with house money, but it’s a calculated risk because the contract is very tradeable. It is an expiring contract,” Conti added.