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Boston Celtics shock the NBA world with stunning Marcus Smart trade

By Alan Nahigian

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 29: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics warms up before game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 29: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics warms up before game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at TD Garden on May 29, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics taught us an unfortunate lesson Wednesday night, going into Thursday morning: professional sports are a business.

You fall in love with certain types of players. The players that don’t need to score or be the number one option on a nightly basis. The guy that does all the dirty work, and brings a camaraderie to the entire team. For the Celtics, that guy was Marcus Smart.

With the way the Celtics were going, you knew that a move was coming. A lot of fans weren’t expecting this move to happen though!

The Boston Celtics traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies, as part of a three team trade with the Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. Boston receives Kristaps Porzingis, the no. 25 overall pick in tonight’s NBA Draft, and a 2024 first round pick courtesy of Golden State. Mike Muscala and Danilo Gallinari are going to Washington, as the other part of the trade.

Boston Celtics shaking up the core by trading Marcus Smart

It was clear that this group needed a big shakeup. They tried to add around the three main guys in Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum. That didn’t work, so it was time to do something drastic.

Trading away Marcus Smart was the most logical move. Out of the three main guys, he’s the oldest and has the most milage on him.

You’re not going to trade Jayson Tatum. That just flat out is not going to happen anytime soon.

You’re not going to trade (and can’t trade!) Jaylen Brown. He’s due for a supermax contract and there are rules/regulations after signing such a deal.

Plus, look again at the value you got for Marcus Smart. Two first round picks. Two of them! That’s a nice haul for an almost 30 year old guard.

Boston Celtics trading a fan favorite in Marcus Smart

Celtics fans are emotional about Marcus Smart being shipped out of town, and rightfully so. Smart embodied everything that it meant to be a Boston Celtic.

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Every night, Celtics fans got the absolute best from Marcus Smart. A lot of the intangibles we value wouldn’t show up on the score sheet every night.

You had Smart consistently taking charges against much bigger and stronger opponents. Then you’d see the moments where Smart would hustle and dive for loose balls. He’d lock up the best scorers on the opposing team on a nightly basis, hence why he won Defensive Player of the Year a season ago!

Hard to grasp the Marcus Smart trade

It’s a weird feeling today to know Marcus Smart is no longer a part of the Boston Celtics. In a weird way, it’s similar to the Nomar trade with the Red Sox back in 2004.

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The Celtics had a surplus of guards and one of them were bound to go. We all thought it was going to be Malcolm Brogdon to the Clippers. But that obviously fell through!

So thank you Marcus Smart. Thank you for everything you did for the city of Boston. It’s just a shame we couldn’t get banner no. 18 while you were here. Best of luck in Memphis!

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