76ers Rival Report: Marcus Smart Moves On From Celtics

For years, former Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart has done a stellar job guarding backcourts in the Eastern Conference after getting drafted sixth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

While the Philadelphia 76ers were rumored to have interest in Smart around the time of the 2014 draft, the Sixers were the team to take a chance on the Kansas standout, Joel Embiid.

These days, Embiid proved to be the right pick for Philadelphia, as he’s a six-time All-Star with an MVP nod on his resume. But Smart developed into a solid player himself, becoming a headache for teams like the Sixers for years to come.

During his time in Boston, Smart was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He was also crowned NBA All-Defensive First Team in three separate seasons and won the NBA’s Hustle Award a handful of times as well.

Over his nine-year career, Smart was a prominent player for Boston from the jump. During his rookie season, he averaged 27 minutes on the court in 67 games, even picking up 38 starts. While he was a reserve for a good portion of his Celtics stint, Smart developed into a full-time starter over the last few years.

On Wednesday, the Celtics closed the book on the Smart chapter in Boston and dealt away the defensive standout in the three-team deal that netted the Celtics Washington big man, Kristaps Porzingis.

Initially, Smart wasn’t included in the Celtics’ quest to land Porzingis. On Wednesday afternoon, the Celtics engaged in trade talks with the Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers. With a three-team deal in place, Smart was expected to stay put in Boston.

However, the Clippers backed out of the deal during the final hours of Porzingis’s option deadline. Without a sign-and-trade before the buzzer, the Celtics would then be left to bid on Porzingis in free agency like the rest of his potential suitors.

But then the Memphis Grizzlies came calling. Becoming the other third team in a Porzingis-centric deal, the Grizzlies helped the Celtics get their wish. In the process, they landed themselves Smart.

For the first time in his NBA career, Marcus Smart will wear another uniform. He leaves Boston after averaging 11 points, four rebounds, five assists, and two steals per game over the course of nine seasons.

The Celtics remain one of the top teams in the East, despite dealing away one of their primary players. By getting Porzingis, the Celtics were praised by many for their move to improve on Wednesday night.

As for Smart, he’ll get an opportunity to compete with a young Memphis Grizzlies team in the West that could use his toughness and veteran leadership.