The Boston Celtics made a surprising move by trading Marcus Smart, the former Defensive Player of the Year, to the Memphis Grizzlies in a three-team deal. This deal also involved the Washington Wizards and resulted in the Celtics acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis from the Wizards. The Wizards, in turn, received Tyus Jones (via Grizzlies), Danilo Gallinari (via Celtics), Mike Muscala (via Celtics), and the No. 35 pick in the 2023 Draft (via Celtics). The Celtics also received the No. 25 pick in the 2023 Draft (via Grizzlies) and a 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected, via Warriors).
This trade comes after a reported earlier trade that would have sent Malcom Brogdon to the Los Angeles Clippers while still bringing in Kristaps Porziņģis and keeping Marcus Smart. However, the deal fell through when the Clippers backed out due to concerns about Brogdon’s “significant injury.”
After falling short of their goal to reach the NBA Finals and win the championship, the Celtics underwent this major trade. Losing Marcus Smart, the heart and soul of the team, will undoubtedly be a blow. However, they stand to gain significant offensive production with the addition of Kristaps Porziņģis, a former All-Star. Porziņģis had an impressive season, averaging a career-high 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per game, while shooting 49% from the field and 38% from three-point range.
With Porziņģis joining forces with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics will have a formidable trio that will surely create matchup problems for opposing teams. Their presence on the court will open up space and provide scoring options, enhancing the team’s offensive capabilities. While losing Marcus Smart is a significant loss, the addition of Kristaps Porziņģis adds a new dimension to the Celtics’ game plan, making them an even more dangerous team in the Eastern Conference.
For more sports coverage from MLB, NBA, NFL, to NCAA contact Julian Ojeda: Call 786-501-9082 | Email: julianojeda@wepa.fm
To stay tuned for more Sports Reports follow @jowepafm on Twitter
Be the first to comment