Wizards blamed for dominance of NBA’s newest potential dynasty

The Boston Celtics just won the 2024 NBA Championship in dominant fashion, and the Washington Wizards were handed a big piece of the blame pie for helping them get there.

Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently wrote an article detailing who is to blame for the Celtics getting as good as they are. They just finished the regular season with a 64-18 record and went 16-3 en route to a title.

The Wizards’ piece of the blame lays in the fact that they traded the Celtics Kristaps Porzingis last summer in a deal that sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Wizards blamed for Celtics' dominance because of Kristaps Porzingis trade

Bailey noted that, at the time of the trade, Porzingis was probably wildly undervalued. Despite his injury issues, which popped up in the postseason especially, Boston turned the big man into the most efficient post-up player in the NBA and a crucial part of their championship squad.

In addition to moving on from long-time fan-favorite Smart, the Celtics parted ways with Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala in the deal. However, they also netted first-round picks.

Overall, it was a complete oversight from the Wizards and Grizzlies. Porzingis was the best player in the trade, yet the Celtics still somehow got picks in addition to adding him.

There were plenty of other teams who received blame for the Celtics’ current dominance, which Bailey listed as a potential dynasty and, at the very least, a current juggernaut.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers got blamed for allowing the Celtics to select Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum with the third-overall picks in back-to-back drafts.

The San Antonio Spurs got some blame for trading Derrick White to Boston. The Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers were blamed for helping the Celtics land Jrue Holiday.

But on top of all the blame, Bailey had three more things to “blame.” Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla, and the Celtics themselves. Except this isn’t blame, it’s credit.

For as much as the Wizards may have helped Boston get to where they are, the Celtics still had to put all the pieces together themselves and go out and win the games.

They did that.