How did the Celtics, Wizards, and Grizzlies do in the Kristaps Porzingis trade?
It’s been a few days since the Kristaps Porzingis trade, and I wanted to let the ink dry on the deal before I hammered away some thoughts into my laptop while I reminisced about all the Marcus Smart Tommy Points over the past nine seasons.
Many Celtics fans are surprised that Boston traded Smart - I’m sure Smart is surprised too. But when Brad Stevens wants a change, Brad Stevens makes a change. The deal involved three teams: Boston, Memphis, and Washington.
Celtics receive:
Kristaps Porzingis (via Wizards)
No. 25 pick in 2023 Draft (via Grizzlies)
2024 first-round pick (top-four protected, via Warriors)
Grizzlies receive:
Marcus Smart (via Celtics)
Wizards receive:
Tyus Jones (via Grizzlies)
Danilo Gallinari (via Celtics)
Mike Muscala (via Celtics)
No. 35 pick in 2023 Draft (via Celtics)
My initial thoughts were confusion. Why are we trading a recent DPOY, 3x All-Defensive First Team member, glue guy, and a player who helped the C's to five Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals, despite 600 turnovers from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum? Why trade a guy who’s gotten better each season? In the last 2-3 years, Boston slumped quite a bit in his absence. He brings a lot of value to this roster.
But then I remembered, he'll be 30 next season. Those gritty hustle plays will gradually vanish. He works hard on the court, which takes a toll on the body. What we’re getting for a guy soon to exit his prime is pretty solid. Kristaps had a great season last year, averaging over 23 PPG and over 8 RPG. The important thing is he played 65 games, which is not insignificant after he’s been hampered by injuries the previous seasons. And…two first-round picks.
Celtics PG Score: 9/10
The Celtics might take a dip in defensive metrics next season, but their ability to spread the floor and play 5-out is going to be impressive. KP's presence will allow Tatum and Brown to penetrate and attack mismatches like there's no tomorrow. The C’s are going to be an offensive juggernaut. KP just needs to (please ffs) stay healthy.
Grizzlies PG Score: 8/10
So, the Grizzlies received Smart. A team that’s been fun to watch and is still pretty young. Introducing a vet who sets his teammates straight when they’re slacking or going to strip clubs with guns will be impactful for the org. The type of play Marcus provides will do well for the Grizzlies. Let’s just hope Ja’s first game back doesn’t look like this.
Marcus Smart can be inserted into almost any team's lineup and positively influence the outcome. He’s just that kind of player. As a C’s fan, I’m gonna miss seeing him out on the parquet floor at the Garden.
Wizards PG Score: 6/10 (but 10/10 for the future)
The Wizards are clearly rebuilding after shipping Bradley Beal to the Suns for CP3 and Landry Shamet + a bunch of picks over the coming years. Next up was KP for another pick, while adding a serviceable point guard in Tyus Jones (10 PPG, 5 APG). They also picked up two quality vets in Gallinari and Mike Muscala from Boston. With CP3, Tyus, hopefully a healthy Gallinari, and decent role players, Washington could be a fun team to watch.