Guard Marcus Smart was a key player for the Boston Celtics during their Finals run in 2022, starting at the point guard position and providing elite defense for the team. However, the Celtics decided to trade Smart this past summer to the Memphis Grizzlies, which was a shock to many observers.
It seems as though Smart himself was shocked as well, and he recently revealed that he heard about the trade through Twitter rather than being told about it by the Celtics.
“I was told everything was good after asking multiple times,” said Smart, per Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “Like, ‘I’m hearing (rumors), what’s going on?’ And they’re like, ‘No, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good.’ And then when I do hear about the trade, it’s from Shams on Twitter before I hear from the team.”
There is no doubt that most players would be appreciative of teams telling them if they are involved in trade talks. That would allow them to prepare for a potential move. However, it makes sense that teams want to be as secretive as possible when it comes to trades, as they don’t want things leaking to the media or for anything to ruin a potential deal.
During the 2022-23 season, Smart averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game for the Celtics. The Grizzlies will look to him to provide a defensive element next to Ja Morant in the backcourt, and he fits perfectly with the team’s defense-first culture.
Marcus Smart Regrets Not Winning A Championship With The Boston Celtics
Even though the Celtics did make the Finals in 2022, they ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors. In fact, Smart previously revealed that his only regret during his time with the Celtics was not winning the championship.
“Not actually getting us one, that’s probably my only regret,” he said, per Boston Globe. “I love the journey that I’ve been a part of with this organization, with this team. I couldn’t ask for more. The only thing I regret is we didn’t get [the championship] when we had our chance when I was here. But other than that I’ve enjoyed my run.”
It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can win a championship without Smart. They did end up getting Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this summer, which makes them one of the most talented teams in the Eastern Conference. Though they do have all they need to win it all, talent isn’t everything, and we will see how the team’s chemistry looks this season.
Marcus Smart Will Be Key For The Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are a young team as of right now, with core pieces like Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. all being 25 and under. Smart will be a quality acquisition for the team from a leadership perspective, and his years of experience in the playoffs could help the team get to the next level.
It is clear that acquiring veteran players was a priority for the Grizzlies this offseason. The team also acquired point guard Derrick Rose, who will also likely be a leader in the locker room.
Hopefully, we see Smart thrive with the Grizzlies. He can certainly have a productive season with the team and help them make the playoffs once again and even compete for a championship.
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