But that servant form of leadership, while already showing glimmers in the likes of Jaren Jackson Jr. He’s not perfect – blow-ups in the locker room with Jaylen Brown and on the floor with Trae Young have happened showing his temper at times getting the best of him. He has empathy, and helped cultivate a competitive but caring culture for the Celtics. He was nominated for the 2022-23 Bob Lanier Community Assist Award. ![]() Google search “Marcus Smart charity” and you’ll see his remarkable work with cancer patients and inner city youth. He gives of his time and treasure regularly to those less fortunate than him, and those that have shared some similar suffering to that in his own life. He is a man of intense effort on the court and remarkable generosity off of it. Through sheer force of will, that piece can very easily be Marcus Smart. But rarely does the perfect trade come about, and in the absence of getting that final piece that fits just right you need to get the piece that can make the space fit. And yes, a theoretical Ja Morant/Desmond Bane/Marcus Smart starting perimeter group is very short. Yes, a true wing would’ve been more ideal positionally. He is what he is because of who he is – not because of what he has been given.Īnd that mentality, perhaps even more than his ability as a basketball player, will make these Grizzlies better. So much of what makes Marcus Smart great is beyond what he physically is supposed to be capable of. He took on a bigger target defensively and didn’t regress as much as he bore more of the burden for Boston as the starter at the point. He finishes well at the rim, and posted a career high in assists. With a 6’9″ wingspan and a physical and mental presence uncommon in the modern NBA, he wills himself to being more of a force than his frame suggests he should be. He replaces not just the “backup” point guard that was Tyus Jones, but also Dillon Brooks as an elite perimeter defender. Smart’s arrival signals the beginning of the next chapter of this era of Grizzlies basketball. He is a 6’4″ combo guard in the truest sense of the words – ideally a secondary facilitator, ideally bigger for that role, and ideally more of an offensive weapon.īut again, despite those flaws, the ceiling for Memphis just went up. He also is not a true point guard, which he technically will be asked to be once the season (and Ja Morant’s suspension officially) begins. The on the court product of course matters – and his lower three point percentage (33-34% the last three seasons), while a bit better than Dillon Brooks’ roughly 32% over the same time period, is not inspiring. To part with that for a diminutive combo guard with a knack for missing threes and turning over the ball may lead to a feeling of…dissatisfaction…for some.īut those in that spot can rest assured that while the Grizzlies did indeed pay a price to acquire Smart, the cost is worth the return.īecause the ceiling for the Memphis Grizzlies organization – not just the team, but the entire franchise – just went up. ![]() Those first round picks, especially the 2024 Golden State Warriors 1st (1-4 protected), were assets literally years in the making. Tyus Jones has been a wonderful piece of the Grizzlies rebuilding and will be missed/appreciated in Memphis. The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly parted ways with Tyus Jones and two first round picks, including the #25 pick that was supposed to belong to Memphis in the 2023 NBA Draft, to have the ability to acquire Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics.
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