Marcus Smart was the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics. He was the first guard to win Defensive Player of the Year since Gary Payton in 1996. For his entire nine-year tenure with the franchise, Boston never missed the playoffs. However, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies during the offseason as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal.
The Grizzlies’ season has crumbled. A string of injury issues, including to Ja Morant and the recently traded Steven Adams, ended their chances of a postseason run before things even got started. Now, Smart’s name is appearing in trade rumors. When Brad Stevens sent him to the Western Conference, he did so knowing Smart would only impact Boston’s trajectory two times a year and maybe in the NBA Finals if the Grizzlies continued to improve.
Smart is a winning basketball player. He’s genuinely capable of defending every position on the floor. He produces game-altering hustle plays. On offense, he’s a valuable playmaker and glue guy. It’s no surprise that two contention hopefuls have their eyes on acquiring him. Milwaukee would likely be keen to replace Jrue Holiday, whom Milwaukee inadvertently sent to Boston this past summer.
Watching their former leader end up on a conference rival or with their most storied enemy in the Lakers would be a worst-case scenario for the Celtics. It’s a situation they likely didn’t envision occurring in the near future. Smart has two more years on his contract after this season, with an average annual value of $19.1M.
However, Memphis’ decision to part with Adams has changed how fans and media view the current Grizzlies roster.
Smart was a great pick-up for Memphis. He could also be a great trade chip for them. Watching him end up on a direct rival, which could affect their playoff chances as well, would be a nightmare scenario for the team and their fans.
