Final trade summary:
Celtics get - Kristaps Porzingis, No. 25 overall pick, 2024 first-round pick
Grizzlies get - Marcus Smart
Wizards get - Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, No. 35 overall pick
I kind of like the end result for the Celtics. For one, the current squad has had enough playoff runs now without reaching the goal (a title) and I think they felt like they had to make some changes. They get a (very) big man who if he stays healthy might make a difference should they run into Jokic and Nuggets in the Finals. And they get the draft picks to keep the pipeline fresh with young talent. I’m not sure I trust Porzingis to stay healthy but maybe on a deep and talented Celtics team he doesn’t have to play as much, reducing the chance of injury.
Wtf?! Smart was a defensive centerpiece for them and crucial for the locker room. I don’t get this trade at all.
To their credit, their first move was about Brogdon. Once that deal fell apart, it looks like Brad panicked a little…beacuse yes, Smart brings a lot to the table, stats only tell a part of it…letting him go it’s a huge price to pay for KP.
On a related note, if Smart is gone this will mean a huge boost for Pritchard playing time, which may not be a bad thing -I sorta like him and think he’s underappreciated. He’s no Smart ofc.
Agreed. I didn’t see Smart getting traded. I’m really going to miss him.
However, if you take a step back you can see how Brad might see the core of Tatum, Brown, Smart as not being able to win a championship. Of those 3, there isn’t one elite ball handler who can initiate and direct the offense when things get tight. I’d rather play to Tatum’s and Brown’s strengths rather than try to shoehorn them into primary playmaking responsibilities.
I think the calculus was, “we have a logjam at PG, we need more frontcourt depth with Al getting older, and we need to find a way to stop committing those bad turnovers late in playoff games.”
The KP trade doesn’t solve it all in one motion but maybe there are more moves to come that will complement this trade and potentially solve the problems I stated above.
The Celtics got the best player in the trade and 2 FRPs. I don’t get why so many people seem to think it’s a bad trade for them
There’s definite upside and watching more film I’m moving more from “cautiously optimistic” to “let’s fucking go”, but there’s also a decent bit of risk. Porzingis has a meaningful injury history, which is relevant on its own. And while Porzingis is a lot better offensively, especially as a scorer, Smart is the shot caller on defense that has done a lot to keep the rest of the defense where they need to be. They’re going to have to make adjustments on defense. His leadership is also more than just calling plays and assignments. He holds guys accountable and his teammates love him. He’s not a perfect player, but he is a big part of the Celtics current identity and has been for years.
I think they needed a shakeup, and he was the only guy you could really move, and ultimately the upside makes this a move I think you have to make. But it’s not a lock to succeed. Also, I think perception is colored by the fact that it looked damn close to getting him for Brogdon instead.
Thanks, I hate it.
What the fuck, Brad.
Rebuilding for the first time in franchise history. This is what hope feels like!
I always thought Marcus would be a Celtics lifer. I’m not sure what to think. If this is the difference for winning a chip, then ok. But otherwise, they just traded away a locker room leader and fan favorite for an injury-prone big. The man has a Honeydew Donuts drink named after him.
This whole trade is so fucking weird.
In a vacuum…not a huge fan of this. Celtics need a big, true - but one who can stay on the floor, and Porzingis, while a good player overall, is far from being that
The Celtics didn’t lose because of their lack of a big. They lost because of their terrible team play and coaching. I’m happy to see them lose because it’s boring to watch them play, but it’s mystifying to me how NBA players on a team that is legitimate championship contender would be content with that level of offense.
But maybe the tall guy can make it easier for the coach to mix up their offense.
