The unicorn will have an extended stay in Boston.
Kristaps Porzingis is expected to finalize a two-year extension with the Celtics worth approximately $60 million, according to Bleacher Report.
He can officially sign an extension starting on July 6.
The Latvian center was traded to Boston by the Wizards this offseason in a three-team deal where the Celtics sent Marcus Smart to Memphis.
“We’ll have a chance to talk here in the next couple of days or next weeks, or whatever it is,” GM Brad Stevens said at Porzingis’ introductory press conference this week.
“But, you know, obviously, we really like Kristaps, we want him here, you know, obviously have next year and then hopefully beyond, but we’ll see on all that.”
The Celtics hope the 7-foot-3 All-Star can team up with Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown to form a formidable Big 3 — and one that can get Boston over the hump.
The franchise fell just short of the NBA title the past two seasons, falling to the Warriors in the NBA Finals in 2022 and losing to the upstart Heat in the conference finals this season.
“Same way Jayson and Jaylen — they’re super high-level guys that are going to, pretty much, have a whole team, the opposite team, all of their attention is going to be on them, and that might make me offensively much more open,” Porzingis said Thursday. “And I look forward to hopefully doing the same back to them and drawing some attention, as I said.
“So, yeah, it’s gonna be a little bit of time until we find that chemistry on the floor. But it’s going to be — it could be a very good mix, for sure.”