Grizzlies Star Reacts to Marcus Smart for Tyus Jones Trade

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One of the most exciting parts of the Memphis Grizzlies acquiring Marcus Smart is their ability to pair the last two Defensive Player of the Year winners together. With Jaren Jackson Jr. winning the award last season, Memphis will be able to pair him with Smart, who was the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year winner.
While this is an exciting development, Jackson Jr. recently shared his disappointed reaction to losing Tyus Jones to the Washington Wizards in this three-team trade:
— Kobi🥷🏿 (@GrzzCmpnyMane) June 23, 2023
Jones has been a very important piece to the Grizzlies' success over the last few seasons, especially when Ja Morant has been out of the lineup. Many have described the Grizzlies as having two starting-level point guards, because Jones was often playing at a level far beyond that of a traditional backup. While Memphis is excited to get Smart, they will certainly miss Jones.
While Jones was undoubtedly a huge piece for the Grizzlies last season and beyond, his playoff performance against the Los Angeles Lakers was problematic, and showed the Grizzlies' need for a potential upgrade in that spot. Marcus Smart has a lot of playoff experience, having appeared in 108 postseason games during his time with the Celtics.
Providing the Grizzlies with defense and experience, Smart should also be a much-needed veteran leader in a locker room that could use a voice like that.
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Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.