The Boston Celtics made a major gamble when they traded for Kristaps Porzingis.
As good as he is, it cost them one of the best defensive players in the NBA, a leader, and a fan favorite.
But more than that, they traded away a durable guy for one that has a long history of injuries.
And now that he recently confirmed that he’s due to miss the upcoming FIBA World Cup due to plantar fasciitis, Christopher Gasper of the Boston Globe expressed his concerns about Porzingis’ health (via NBC Sports Boston).
“This is the risk the Celtics are taking, that this guy will be available when it matters most and that’s no guarantee.”@cgasper reacts to Kristaps Porzingis announcing he’ll miss the FIBA World Cup due to plantar fasciitis pic.twitter.com/7iirJWu2wF
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 16, 2023
Porzingis has been quite productive when he’s been on the floor for the better part of his career.
He can score from all three levels, block shots, and is a solid rebounder.
But he’s missed way too many games with different ailments, and the fact that he may not be able to endure a full NBA season should be a major scare for Joe Mazzulla’s team, as they only need him to be available in the playoffs.
The Latvian star has never played a full season, missing half of it in his third year and then the whole campaign with a torn ACL.
He’s coming off a somewhat solid season in that regard, making 65 appearances for the Washington Wizards, but the concerns are still there.
On paper, adding Porzingis was just what they needed to get over the hump once and for all, and they should be the oddsmakers’ favorite to win the Eastern Conference next season.
But paper doesn’t win championships, and you actually need to be on the floor to compete.
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Kristaps Porzingis Announces FIBA World Cup Decision