The Boston Celtics made a blockbuster trade late Wednesday night that involved two other teams. Boston sent guard Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies, while Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis heads to the Celtics, and Memphis guard Tyrus Jones lands in a new home with Washington.
As part of the deal, Memphis is sending Boston its first-round pick in Thursday’s draft — the 25th overall selection — and the Golden State Warriors top-four-protected first-round pick in 2024, sources said, while the Celtics are sending the 35th pick in Thursday’s draft to Washington. The Celtics are also sending forward Danilo Gallinari and center Mike Muscala to Washington. The three-team deal came together in the minutes leading up to a midnight ET deadline for Porzingis to opt in to his $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season. With the deal completed, Porzingis opted in. The original deal would of sent Boston Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon to the LA Clippers as part of a three team trade. Injury concerns about Brogdon made that fall apart, so the C’s pivoted instead to make a deal with Memphis.
Porzingis is coming off a career year for Washington averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 65 games. Boston is re-tooling their roster around stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and now adds two first round draft picks. This is just a start in what will be a busy summer for the organization, as they can also offer the All-Star forward Brown a max contract of five years, 295 million and also has to sort out restricted free agent Grant Williams.
Boston will also have to adjust to life without Smart, who has been the heart of the team throughout his nine years with the franchise. He was the longest-tenured player on the roster and one of the league’s best and most versatile perimeter defenders, which was recognized by his winning the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Award. All the things that made Smart so valued in Boston are exactly what the Grizzlies will be looking for him to provide in Memphis, as they try to bounce back from a first-round exit against the Los Angeles Lakers. Smart, who averaged a career-high 6.3 assists per game last season, will also be more than capable of stepping into the starting point guard role for Memphis while Ja Morant is serving his suspension over the first 25 games of the new season.
Story by Chris Lessner
