Does Kristaps Porzingis make the Boston Celtics favorites to come out of the East?

Are the Celtics the team to beat in the East?

The three-team trade that sent star Washington Wizards big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics and veteran floor general Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies has sparked discussions about the Celtics’ potential as the best team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference if not the league next season.

Porzingis is seen by some as a key player who can unlock the potential of star Boston forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. However, the Celtics also face the challenge of filling the void left by Smart on and off of the court. He was considered the heart and soul of the team over his nine seasons in Boston.

Are the Celtics the team to beat in the East? A recent episode of the ESPN “First Take” show explored where we ought to assess Boston compared to the rest of the East for 2023-24.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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