With the All-Star break officially over, we’ve now entered the final chapter of regular season play. Most teams have their rosters set for the rest of the year and are either going all-in for playoff positioning or tanking in an attempt to acquire a top pick in the upcoming draft.
The Boston Celtics are one of the few squads battling for a top seed in the Eastern Conference. Currently, the Celtics sit in second place with a record of 39-16, hoping to overtake the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers, who have a five and a half-game lead over them.
Other teams, such as the Washington Wizards, hope to continue losing games to have a chance to draft Cooper Flagg while also developing their young players. However, a former beloved Celtic who is on the Wizards may not like the idea of losing games and instead could want to prove his worth to contenders.
Marcus Smart’s Future with The Wizards Is Uncertain
Marcus Smart was traded to the Washington Wizards after a disappointing tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he appeared in just 39 games in two seasons. Smart was an immediate upgrade for the Grizzlies last year, averaging a career-high 14.5 points, but was limited to 20 appearnces due to injuries.
Smart saw a decrease in his playing time this season with the emergence of GG Jackson II and Scotty Pippen Jr., averaging 8.7 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 21.1 minutes. With Jarren Jackson Jr. and other notable Grizzlies set to seek new contracts, the Grizzlies traded Smart to open cap space.
Smart, 31, has one more year left on his four-year, $76.5 million extension he signed in the summer of 2021. Smart can still provide solid defense and both his veteran presence and playoff experience can be helpful to this young Wizards team.
However, the Wizards are one of the worst teams in the NBA this season as they currently have a record of 9-45. The Wizards aren’t competing for a playoff spot as they’re trying to stockpile draft capital and develop their young core of Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington.
With the Wizards' current direction, Smart’s tenure with the team could be short-lived as he could want to join a team that’s competing for a championship. That means that he could either be bought out of his contract or traded this summer, lining him up to join his fourth team in four years.