Marcus Smart recently talked about the trade that sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies this summer in an interview with The Athletic. Here is what the high-profile defensive guard had to say.
“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.”
Marcus Smart is extremely excited to start his new chapter with the Memphis Grizzlies.
“You always want to be where you’re wanted, and another team’s trash is another team’s gold. So I’m glad to be here,” Smart said. “I’m glad to be on an organization that wants me and sees me (have) great value. So I’m ecstatic and I’m ready to get going.”
Smart will be a great fit with the Grizzlies.
Memphis Guard, Marcus Smart, Talks About Being Traded From Boston Celtics
Marcus Smart’s Impact
As many NBA peers know, Marcus Smart is one of the best defenders in the league. He is a former defensive player of the year, All-NBA Team Defense member, and will be a solid fit for the gritty Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have a reputation for being a tough-minded, hard nosed, and defensive oriented team.
Last season, Smart averaged 1.5 steals, a defensive win-share total of +2.7, and a defensive rebounding percentage of 8.0 percent. On top of this, he also tallied a steal percentage of 2.3 percent. For his career, the now former Boston Celtic has averaged 1.6 steals, 2.7 defensive rebounds per game, and a defensive win-share total of +23.5. All in all, the Grizzlies got a player who is perfect for their system and will thrive in a defensive oriented environment.
A Perfect Fit With the Memphis Grizzlies
Last year, the Memphis Grizzlies were ranked third in team defensive rating at 110.7. Of course, that was with a healthy Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams in the frontcourt. Now, Adams will miss all of this season and Clarke is also expected to miss more significant time. As a result, Marcus Smart’s importance is going to be amplified from a defensive perspective.
While Derrick Rose is a more polished offensive player who can help fill void from Ja Morant for the first 25 games, Marcus Smart is going to be tasked with guarding the Stephen Curry’s of the NBA. Last season, the Grizzlies were a top-two team in the competitive Western Conference. They were eventually knocked out in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers. They are hoping that Smart can help the team make the next step this season. When it is all said and done, Marcus Smart is going to play an important part this year.
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