Marcus Smart was the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics. He became the first quarterback to win Defensive Player of the Year honors since Gary Payton in 1996. In their nine years with the franchise, Boston has never missed the playoffs.
However, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal. The Grizzlies season is in decline. Injuries, including to Ja Morant and the recently traded Stephen Adams, have cost the team a chance to play before the postseason even begins. Now, Smart’s name is popping up in trade rumors. When Brad Stevens sent him to the Western Conference, he did so knowing that Smart would impact Boston’s trajectory twice a year and only in the NBA Finals if the Grizzlies continued to improve.
According to Jake Fisher of Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks have both requested trades for Smart.While several clubs, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, have approached Memphis about signing Marcus Smart, sources say the Grizzlies have closed all offers for the veteran guard, Fisher said. Smart is a winning basketball player.
He truly has the ability to defend from any position on the field. He makes dynamic plays that change the game. Offensively, he serves as a valuable playmaker and glue. No wonder two candidates want to buy it. Milwaukee is looking for a replacement for Jrue Holiday, who Milwaukee naturally traded to Boston last summer. The worst-case scenario would be to see the former Celtics leader end up with a conference rival or the Lakers’ arch-rival. It’s something they didn’t expect to happen so soon. Smart has two years left on his contract worth $19.1 million per year after this season.
However, Memphis’ decision to part ways with Adams has changed the way fans and the media view the current Grizzlies roster. Smart was the perfect fit for Memphis. He could also be a great trade chip for them. It would be a scary scenario for the team and their fans to see him become a direct opponent that could hurt their playoff chances.
