The Boston Celtics made a major roster move by trading their longest-tenured player, veteran point guard Marcus Smart, for Washington Wizards star big man Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal.
Smart had been with the team for nine seasons, consistently helping it reach the playoffs and serving as the club’s emotional fulcrum. This move represents a gamble for the Celtics, and it caused no small eruption of criticism from fans of the team and analysts — but Hall of Fame big man Charles Barkley is not among them.
Speaking in a recent appearance on the eponymous “Bill Simmons” podcast (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Bobby Krivitsky), the Round Mound of Rebound related he is a fan of the move for Boston.
“I think it’s worth the gamble,” he suggested. “He doesn’t have to be your best player. He doesn’t have to be your second-best player.”
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The Porzingis deal is not the only change made in the Celtics’ offseason. Key hires of Sam Cassell and Charles Lee, regarded as top assistant coaches in the NBA, also bolstered the team’s coaching staff. Barkley suggests these additions and Boston’s other moves boost the team’s title odds.
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