Boston — After a nine-year tenure with the team, Marcus Smart was moved by the Celtics to the Memphis Grizzlies in an unexpected
offseason move that occurred more than seven months ago.
The Celtics stepped it up after a dismal postseason run that culminated in a wild seven-game series loss to the eighth-seeded Miami
Heat club. In an attempt to retool the Celtics squad with a new look, Smart was selected among a small group of departees that
included Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and others.
Able to set prejudices aside, Smart knows exactly where the ownership and front office were coming from.
Smart acknowledged, “If it were me, I’d make the same business decision as well,” prior to his return to Boston on Sunday night. “All I
asked for was a heads-up or something as simple as, ‘Hey, you’ve been here for nine years,'” from the team. We would like to inform
you of the current situation. Perfect. I am a businessman at the end of the day. That’s what it was, and the true source of the hurt.
“There’s no animosity toward the organization, toward my teammates, or toward the coaching staff,” Smart continued. I’m grateful to
have gotten the chance to play with those men because I adore them all.
When Smart was selected with the sixth overall choice in the NBA draft in 2014, he joined Boston. Smart was a part of the Celtics’
rebuilding team at the time, which was led by then-head coach Brad Stevens and was looking for its next core player.
Smart spent years playing with seasoned players like Amir Johnson, David Lee, Brandon Bass, and Evan Turner, all of whom had little
prospect of winning the NBA Finals. After Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum joined the team, that narrative shifted, providing the front
management a motivation to make an investment, which it did.
After the Celtics won a 2-1 series, Boston advanced to the NBA Finals in 2022 but was defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six
games.
Now, two years after blowing their opportunity at Banner 18, the Celtics are determined to make amends and have already jumped out
to an NBA-best 37-12 start this year. In the interim, Smart continues to heal from a finger injury, and the Grizzlies have fallen to 13th
position in the Western Conference.
It goes without saying that the 29-year-old has found it difficult to observe from a distance as Boston continues to thrive.
“It’d be difficult to comprehend and try not to wrap your head around it when you come that close and you have to leave, (for) anybody
in this position,” Smart said. However, as I already stated, it ultimately doesn’t change how I feel about those guys. They deserve it just
as much as I believe I deserve (a title). Because those guys have worked just as hard and deserve it just as much as I do, that is why I
am so happy for them.
In addition to an in-game applause, Smart received recognition on Sunday night as Boston’s “Hero Among Us” for his continuous
volunteer efforts outside of the basketball court. The team also created a video tribute for Smart.
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