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When the Hawks traded for Kristaps Porzingis, it was in hopes the big man could boost them toward playoff contention. Instead, as has been the case throughout Porzingis’ career, he’s struggled to stay on the court.
Porzingis has missed 13 of the past 14 games for the Hawks due an illness. He’s set to sit Monday’s game against the Thunder, though ESPN reported that Porzingis will be considered day-to-day afterwards. While the big man could be back on the court soon, the more important factor remains on if he can stay healthy for an extended stretch.
Porzingis is also unsurprisingly in trade rumors ahead of February’s trade deadline. He’s on an expiring $30.7 million contract, so he could be shopped by the Hawks looking for a difference-maker. Atlanta was hoping this season it could take a step forward, but with a 15-18 record, it’s still just a play-in team through the first half of the season.
When Porzingis does play, he’s still an effective player. He’s averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his 13 games played this season. But this recent illness has slowed him down. It’s unclear if it’s exactly the same issue he dealt with while on the Celtics, when doctors diagnosed him with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS.
The last time Porzingis played in a game, back on Dec. 5, he came off the bench for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Hawks big man Onyeka Okongwu is putting together a breakout season at 25, so he’s a bigger part of the future for the organization.
The Celtics moved Porzingis to the Hawks over the summer in a three-team trade that also included the Nets. The deal was completed mainly for financial reasons. The C’s acquired Georges Niang, who was later shipped to the Jazz, in the trade. On Atlanta’s side, it saw a talented big man who could help them on both ends of the court. But reality has been Porzingis struggling to be a consistent factor for a struggling team.
The Hawks are in an interesting spot due to the state of their roster. They’re looking to compete, but there have been rumors they could trade All-Star guard Trae Young. He’s a great offensive talent, but the Hawks didn’t sign him to an extension and his defensive limitations have been an issue throughout his career. It all results in a franchise looking to take a step but could go a number of different directions.