Veteran point guard Marcus Smart will suit up for the Memphis Grizzlies next season, his first campaign as a pro outside of the city of Boston. This comes on the heels of a blockbuster trade between the Boston Celtics, the Washington Wizards, and Memphis. After nine seasons with the Celtics, Smart will take his trademark grit and tenacity to Bluff City.
Smart’s impact during his tenure with Boston extended far beyond the parquet. He became a community leader and enjoyed an intense bond with the fan base. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens was vehement in his praise of Smart’s character and leadership during a recent press conference discussing the decision to trade Smart. It’s a major fork in the road for the Celtics and for Smart himself.
What happens in the immediate aftermath of a trade is never clear. There are many paths a player can take. For Smart and his Young Game Changer Foundation, however, changing uniforms wasn’t a good enough reason to cancel a planned Pro-Am tournament in Boston. In fact, the event became even more important.
“We want to get the whole city to support and give him the send-off he deserves,” YGC Creative Director Aidan Marshall told Celtics Wire.
Celtics president Brad Stevens expressed his gratitude for Marcus Smart while looking ahead to the Kristaps Porzingis era. https://t.co/2yLGvONEWi
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 23, 2023