boston celtics have made a trade that shocked the fans
The Boston Celtics are all-in for an NBA championship that they had to trade their heart and soul, Marcus Smart, to improve the roster. Smart will go to Memphis while Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones will moves to Washington.
Boston’s decision to trade Smart stunned Celtic Nation as the team was just praising him hours before. Several fans promptly reacted to the breaking news:
As part of the three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, the Celtics made an unexpected move to start their offseason: they sent Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies.
After spending the last nine seasons winning over Celtics supporters and the Boston community, Smart—who the team selected sixth overall in the 2014 NBA Draft—became well-known as the team’s heart and soul.
Fans of the Celtics, who have struggled to accept that Smart is no longer a member of their beloved team, were taken aback by the move. As Smart disclosed on Sunday, he was likewise taken aback by the transaction for a number of reasons.
“My fiancĂ©e was phoned by my agency while I was genuinely asleep. At a pro-am game he sponsored in Stoughton, Massachusetts, Smart told reporters, “She woke me up out of a sleep.” “I believe Shams [Charania of The Athletic] had previously tweeted it very shortly after the trade was done. That’s how we discovered.”
The deal’s most surprising aspect, in Smart’s opinion, is that it was made just after the Celtics assured him he wouldn’t be traded.
“The week before [the trade] I was already told that we were good, and there were no trade talks [involving] me,” Smart stated. “I was good, so we weren’t expecting that.”
But despite the nature of the business, Smart says there
“I comprehend the commercial aspect of it,” stated Smart. “That’s how I’ve always been, and everyone who knows me well knows that I’m the first to warn people that work and personal don’t mix. And you’re going to damage yourself if you do.
Subsequently, Smart emphasized that he has “no beef” with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the two great forwards. He referred to Tatum and Brown as his “brothers for life.”
With regards to the affection shown by Celtics supporters, Smart remarked that “it’s hard to say goodbye,” noting that he had come across some supporters who had been moved to tears as a result of the deal.
The Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Finals five times during Smart’s nine seasons in Boston. They also made it to the NBA Finals in 2022, however they were two wins away from winning the championship. In addition to being selected for three All-Defensive First Teams, Smart was named the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.
Now, he joins a Grizzlies squad that is eager to move past its past two losing seasons.
