The Boston Celtics made a game-changing move just before midnight on Wednesday.
The Celtics sent guard Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies to complete a three-team transaction that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Celtics are trading Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies as part of deal, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023
Wojnarowski also stated that Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala will be transferred to Washington as part of the transaction.
Earlier on Wednesday night, Wojnarowski reported that a three-team deal involving the Clippers fell through due to Los Angeles’ concerns over Malcolm Brogdon’s health.
The Wizards are sending first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 to Boston as part of the transaction, allowing the Celtics to draft 10 positions earlier on Thursday night. According to Wojnarowski, the Celtics are trading the 35th overall pick in Thursday’s draft to Washington as part of the transaction.
Per sources, here’s the full deal breakdown
Celtics get: Kristaps Porzingis, No. 25 pick in 2023 NBA Draft, 2024 Warriors first-round pick (top-4 protected)
Wizards get: Tyus Jones, Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala, No. 35 pick in 2023 Draft
Grizzlies get: Marcus Smart
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) June 22, 2023
Smart, 29, was the Celtics’ sixth overall pick in the 2014 draft. For Boston, he appeared in 581 regular-season games and 108 postseason games.
During that time, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, earning him Defensive Player of the Year honors in the 2021-22 season.
He became the first guard to receive the award since Gary Payton in 1996. For numerous years, he was the Celtics’ longest-tenured player, and he was an important part of the team’s identity.
Given that Smart joined the Celtics in Brad Stevens’ second year as head coach, it was a difficult decision for Stevens, who is now the president of basketball operations, to let him go.
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Porzingis, 27, was an All-Star with the Knicks last season and averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds for the Wizards.
Porzingis has missed a lot of time due to injuries in recent years, averaging 54 games per season over the last four years. Porzingis missed the whole 2018-19 season due to a torn ACL.
The departure of Smart allows Derrick White to take over as the starting point guard, and the Celtics’ decision to keep Malcolm Brogdon – who was set to go to the Clippers in a three-team trade that fell through – means the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year will remain on the bench.
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