JUST IN: Kristaps Porzingis gives the Celtics a chance to win a championship.

The Boston Celtics have come close to winning the NBA championship the last two seasons, but have come up short both times. With the addition of Kristaps Porziis, Boston appears to be as dangerous as it was during the Jayson Tatum era.

Following a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, it was clear that change was required for the current Celtics core to reach their full potential.

President of basketball operations Brad Stevens could have justified keeping the core together for a team that lost the 2022 NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors. Instead, he took a chance by trading fan favorite Marcus Smart for an injury-prone big man.

Smart had been a beloved Celtics player since they selected him sixth overall in the 2014 NBA draft. He was a standout defensive guard who was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. However, he had offensive flaws that hampered the Celtics.

Stevens recognized these flaws and decided to make a big trade. Smart was dealt to the Grizzlies, while Porziis was traded from Washington to Boston in exchange for the 25th overall pick and a first-round pick in 2024. To round out the three-team trade, the Wizards received Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, and the 35th overall pick.

Porziis was coming off possibly his best season in Washington, averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. However, the Latvian’s injury concerns remained after he missed the entire 2018-19 season due to an ACL injury.

Now, ten games into his Boston career, the decision is paying off. With an 8-2 record, the Celtics are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Boston is ranked third in the NBA in terms of offensive rating (119.5) and second in terms of defensive rating.

Porziis was coming off possibly his best season in Washington, averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. However, the Latvian’s injury concerns remained after he missed the entire 2018-19 season due to an ACL injury.

Now, ten games into his Boston career, the decision is paying off. With an 8-2 record, the Celtics are tied for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Boston is ranked third in the NBA in terms of offensive rating (119.5) and second in terms of defensive rating.

Porziis gives the Celtics All-Star duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown space to operate by pulling the man guarding him (usually a center) this far outside the paint. As shot blockers are drawn away from the basket, driving lanes are more open than ever.

Following the Porziis trade, Boston made another splash by acquiring Jrue Holiday in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, and two first-round picks.

Holiday is one of the NBA’s best defensive guards, and he and Derrick White have helped to mitigate the impact of Smart’s departure.

This season, Holiday’s stats don’t stand out: 12.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. However, he is a more dependable and superior version of Smart. Holiday is less likely to take bad shots and is a better three-point shooter. He has a career three-point percentage of 36.6%, compared to Smart’s 32.3%.

The Celtics have gone all-in to win the championship. They still have one of the best players in basketball in Tatum, an elite sidekick in Brown, and an excellent supporting cast. They appear to be the best basketball team in the world. Anything less than an NBA championship will be a huge letdown.