This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/celtics as Celtics Predicted to Choose Shocking Kristaps Porzingis Replacement. The Boston Celtics are going to have a new starting center next season after trading Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. Moving Porzingis was part of the Celtics' goal to shed salary.

Vucevic would be an interesting piece for the Celtics, as he has a somewhat similar skill set to Kristaps Porzingis. While Porzingis is much better, and tough to disagree with, Vucevic can also make shots from beyond the arc, so in that sense, they have some similarities.

Kristaps Porzingis knew a trade from the Celtics was possible this offseason. However, the big man did not suspect a move to the Hawks. The former Celtics big man spoke to Latvia’s Sports Studja in an interview this week in his first public comments after Boston traded him away as part of a three-team deal to the Atlanta Hawks for Georges Niang.