The Celtics traded longtime point guard Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies on Wednesday night in a three-team trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Boston and Tyus Jones to the Wizards.
Draft capital was also exchanged between the three sides, but the most impactful part of the deal was Boston’s ability to land Porzingis, which meant parting with Smart, who has been the heart and soul of the franchise for the past nine years.
Smart spent his entire career with Boston to this point, and the team reached the postseason each of his nine years. He was the team’s heartbeat - a catalyst on both ends of the floor - whose NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 2021-’22 season defined his tenure.
