Marcus Smart quickly accepted the Boston Celtics trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies in June 2023.
But a year and a half later, there is one key aspect of the trade that still rubs Smart the wrong way.
“I still look at it the way that I looked at it when it happened. It’s a great trade, business-wise,” Smart told reporters at shootaround Saturday prior to facing the Celtics later that night, per CLNS Media. “Just wish, you know, would have went about it a little bit differently, just letting me know. That way I wasn’t just blindsided, and I could have prepared for it and got my family ready.”
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made the shrewd decision to shake up Boston’s roster after several seasons of knocking on the door of a championship, but never coming through with one.
Stevens decided to trade Smart, a fan favorite for his hard-nosed style of play who had been with the franchise for nine seasons, as part of a three-team deal that saw the Celtics acquire Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis became an integral piece for the Celtics and the perfect compliment, along with Jrue Holiday, to star wings Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“But like I said business-wise, it’s a great business move,” Smart said. “I would have made the move and I think anybody probably would have. So, you tip your cap off to those guys.”
The Celtics went on to win an NBA title without Smart, who nearly got his hands on one during his time with Boston. If there was any animosity for how things turned out for Smart, he hasn’t displayed it publicly. Instead, he throws his support behind his former teammates and what they accomplished without him.
“I’m very happy for them. I’m proud that they were able to go and win it,” Smart said. “Like I said before, I’ve been on the court with those guys, I put the work in with those guys, so I know what they sacrificed and I’m proud to see those guys finally getting what they deserve.”
