Marcus Smart was under the impression after his exit meeting that he was part of the Boston Celtics’ future plans, according to NBA insider Jared Weiss of The Athletic. The Celtics wound up trading Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Celtics drafted Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Oklahoma State. The 29-year-old averaged 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 581 games with Boston while shooting 38.6% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc and 77.7% from the free-throw line. Smart won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Smart averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Celtics last season. The rugged defender, along with former MVP Derrick Rose, will have to play very well while Ja Morant is out for the Grizzlies to stay competitive in the Western Conference. Morant will miss the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season due to a suspension. Both Smart and Rose are expected to mentor the superstar.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics Updates
Celtics fans will give Smart a standing ovation when he comes back to the TD Garden next season. The All-NBA defender is one of the top players in Boston franchise history. An anonymous member of the Grizzlies told Keith Smith of Spotrac that the franchise is thrilled about acquiring Smart from the Celtics.
“Marcus Smart is perfect for everything we want to be,” the anonymous member of the Grizzlies said. “We want our players to be tough, versatile, intelligent and to sacrifice for the team. And they have to represent what we want Grizzlies to be and to do right by Memphis. Marcus is going to teach some of our young guys how to win in ways they haven’t quite figured out yet. We couldn’t be happier to have him.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Marcus Smart, Memphis Grizzlies, Boston Celtics Updates
The Celtics are going to look very different in 2023-24. They are expected to start Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Boston acquired Holiday from the Portland Trail Blazers and Porzingis from the Washington Wizards.
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