NBA Trade Shakes Up Draft Night: No. 22 Pick Moves in Three-Team Deal

In a major move on the eve of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics have completed a three-team trade that is set to reshape their rosters and draft strategies.

The Brooklyn Nets emerge from the deal with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft—originally held by Atlanta—and guard Terance Mann. The Hawks, meanwhile, land All-Star center Kristaps Porziņģis from the Celtics along with a future Boston second-round pick, adding size and shooting to a frontcourt that will now feature the 7-foot-3 big man. Porziņģis, who averaged 19.5 points and shot over 41% from three last season, brings a versatile skill set but also a history of injuries that limited his postseason impact with Boston.

The Celtics, in turn, receive forward Georges Niang and a future second-round pick. The move is widely seen as a strategic effort by Boston to shed salary and move below the NBA’s restrictive second tax apron, after also trading Jrue Holiday the previous day. Niang, signed through next season at $8.2 million, offers shooting and depth, while the departure of Porziņģis and his $30.7 million contract provides significant financial flexibility for the Celtics as they look to reset their roster.

The trade has sparked immediate speculation about each franchise’s direction. The Hawks are betting on Porziņģis to complement star guard Trae Young, while the Nets add both a first-round pick and a physical wing in Mann to bolster their rebuild. For Boston, the focus shifts to managing payroll and preparing for future roster moves, even as they part with key contributors from their 2024 championship team.

The 2025 NBA Draft begins Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with the Nets now holding the No. 22 pick as a result of this blockbuster deal.