Instead of Malcolm Brogdon, Marcus Smart was included in the trade for the Celtics to acquire Kristaps Porziņģis
Sixth overall pick in 2014, Marcus Smart is leaving the Celtics after nine years to join the Grizzlies in a trade that will take Kristaps Porziņģis to Boston. Initially, the three-team trade would have featured the Los Angeles Clippers, who would welcome another Celtic point guard, Malcolm Brogdon, and send some draft picks and players to the Wizards, but concerns about the player’s fitness they led the team to withdraw from the deal last month. Now. Information about the swap comes from sources linked to US ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
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The Clippers’ rejection was truly last minute. The entire trade was around the departure of Kristaps Porziņģis to the Boston Celtics, but the player had until midnight Wednesday the 21st to sign his player option which would allow movement. With the third party pulling out, the Wizards and Celtics began looking for a trade scenario with just the two teams, but the Memphis Grizzlies showed up with Tyus Jones at the negotiating table, who again had three sides.
With just over an hour to arrange the entire exchange, the loss of Marcus Smart showed just how rushed the negotiations were between the parties. Smart was the oldest player on the roster, where he had been since 2014, when he entered the NBA, and was a key part of the franchise’s biggest moments with a drafted roster. In return, the Celtics received two picks from Memphis, one for next season’s draft and one for the 2024 draft.
Exchange details
- Boston Celtics Receive: Kristaps Porziņģis, pick No. 25 draft pick and 2024 first-round pick (via GSW);
- Washington Wizards receive: Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala and the 35th pick of the draft;
- Memphis Grizzlies Receive: Marcus Smart.
Despite losing a bigger chunk than they would have in the trade to the Clippers, oldest player on the roster and 2022 DPOY, the Boston Celtics managed to get two first-round draft picks, with one in tonight’s event , 22, who can turn into a new point guard for the team and one for 2024, to keep the roster competitive for years to come.
The Wizards have also improved the package they will receive. In addition to moving up five spots in the draft this season, this time to the 25th pick, the team also acquired Tyus Jones, a 27-year-old guard who is showing signs of taking over the starting position for some franchises , and should have still some longevity in the league.
The arrival of Marcus Smart for the Memphis Grizzlies bodes well for next season. 25-game ban of Ja Morant, the 29-year-old point guard will bring to the team the experience of previously commanding a winning team for a raw roster in the playoffs. The trade also reunited the league’s bottom two DPOYs: Smart at 22 and Jaren Jackson Jr. in 2023, which should help the team take it one step further in its quest for one of the best defenses in the league.
Source: Terra
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