Marcus Smart discussed the Boston Celtics sending him to the Memphis Grizzlies during an interview with NBA reporter Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Smart was well aware that the Celtics would eventually move him. He simply did not believe it would happen this year.
“If I’m being quite frank, I knew I would be traded eventually,” Smart said. “Just figured it would be the next season, just based off my contract and with the new CBA. We already knew that. But it was just the way it happened. I was told everything was good after asking multiple times. 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 (Charania) on Twitter before I hear from the team.”
The Celtics drafted Smart with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Oklahoma State. The 29-year-old averaged 10.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 581 games with Boston. Smart won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Smart averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.3 assists for the Celtics last season. The All-NBA defender, along with former MVP Derrick Rose, will have to play very well while Ja Morant is out for the Grizzlies to stay competitive in the Western Conference. Morant will miss the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season due to a suspension.
“Everybody keeps thinking I’m here to help Ja with off-the-court stuff and to babysit Ja. That’s not even the case. That’s far from it,” Smart said. “Ja’s a human being, just like everybody else. Ja made a mistake. Ja’s paying the consequences for his mistake, and he’s taking the necessary actions to render those mistakes and come back with a clean slate. That’s all we can ask for.”
The Memphis Grizzlies kick off the season against the New Orleans Pelicans. Smart will make his debut at either point guard or shooting guard.
