In a recent announcement, the Boston Celtics revealed that injured power forward Kristaps Porzingis is set to undergo surgery for his left leg injury in the coming days. Porzingis, who suffered a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon, had anticipated delaying the surgery until after Latvia's Olympic qualifying tournament. However, the team has stated that the star player is unable to compete at the required level and will not be participating in the tournament.

Porzingis had previously mentioned the need for surgery following the NBA Finals, so this decision does not come as a surprise. The Celtics now plan to provide updates on Porzingis' recovery timeline after the surgery is completed.

Unfortunately, this means that Latvia will be vying for a spot in the men's basketball Olympic tournament without their key player. To secure an Olympic berth, the Latvian team will have to win a six-team qualifying tournament in Riga, Latvia, competing against Georgia, Brazil, Cameroon, Montenegro, and the Philippines. The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 2-7.

Meanwhile, in other news related to the Atlantic Division, Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer reported on the Boston Celtics' series of trades from last year. According to O'Connor, the Celtics would have still traded away Marcus Smart during the 2023 offseason, even if the initial deal involving Porzingis and Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers had gone through. In that scenario, the Celtics would have sent Smart to the Grizzlies in a separate deal for Tyus Jones and two draft picks acquired in the final Porzingis trade. This potential trade might have affected their ability to acquire Jrue Holiday later in the offseason.

In draft-related updates, some prospects have recently worked out for the New York Knicks. Among these are Indiana center Kel'el Ware, Akron forward Enrique Freeman, and San Francisco forward Jonathan Mogbo, as reported by Ian Begley of SNY.tv. The Knicks currently hold the 24th and 25th overall picks in the first round, along with the 38th pick in the second round on Thursday.

Furthermore, Fred Katz and Andrew Schlecht of The Athletic consulted with an Eastern Conference executive to evaluate potential draft options for the Knicks. Some of the prospects discussed include Ryan Dunn, Kyshawn George, DaRon Holmes II, and Jonathan Mogbo, among others. The executives analyze the pros and cons of each player, providing insights into the Knicks' draft strategy.

As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming draft and Porzingis' recovery progress, both the Celtics and the Knicks navigate their respective challenges in the Atlantic Division.