Reactions to Marcus Smart trade are all over the place
Brad Stevens and the Celtics pulled off a blockbuster trade late Wednesday night, reportedly sending Marcus Smart to Memphis in a three-team trade that brings Kristaps Porzingis and two first-round picks to Boston.
The reactions to the trade have been all over the place, including on The Greg Hill Show, where there was a clear spit in opinions. Listen to the full discussion below.
“I think it’s a great move for the Celtics,” Jermaine Wiggins said, going on to point out that this removes any doubt about who the team’s leader is and can push Jayson Tatum into that role once and for all.
“It’s similar to the Mac Jones situation where they got the offensive coordinator, if they can get D-Hop [DeAndre Hopkins], now we know what Mac Jones is. In this case, now you can see what your team really looks like and what the leadership of your team looks like, and that starts obviously with Jayson Tatum. How does he now take this team where he doesn’t have a guy like Marcus Smart inserting himself into things where you go, can Tatum really lead this team the way he wants to lead? … I really want to see how the dynamic works now between Tatum, [Jaylen] Brown and [Joe] Mazzulla.”
Producer Chris Scheim agreed with Wiggy, saying that the Celtics actually got “lucky” by having the initial trade with the Clippers involving Malcolm Brogdon fall through, necessitating the backup plan involving Smart instead.
“This is the greatest deal you could’ve fallen ass-backwards into on the planet,” Scheim said. “You needed to get rid of Marcus Smart to change the culture a little bit. You get a big man in here, because Rob Williams isn’t playing an entire season and Al Horford is old. I love the versatility that Porzingis brings.”
Greg Hill, meanwhile, is on the complete opposite side. He believes that if there was going to be a shakeup to the chemistry or team leadership, it should have been Jaylen Brown getting traded.
“They got rid of the wrong guy,” Hill said. “…There is a leadership void on this team. I am concerned that you got rid of the one guy who was, from a leadership perspective, from a desire to win perspective, was the heart and soul of that basketball team in Marcus Smart.
“You get way more for Jaylen Brown. I understand you don’t want to split up the two Jays. We can argue that all day. You’re saddled with Joe Mazzulla, I guess, going forward. I wish they would’ve made a change when it came to head coach. So, you got rid of a guy who I think was doing his best to help a coach who was fumbling and bumbling his way around the NBA and stepped into that void and tried to at least assume some sort of leadership role with the team when Jayson Tatum doesn’t appear to me to be a guy who wants that role. We’ll see.”
We certainly will. Smart was the longest-tenured Celtic, and there’s no doubt that this is a major shakeup of the team’s core, involving arguably the most polarizing player on the team. Those who love Smart and all his hustle plays might be closer to Greg’s side. Those who think he had too big of a role and took too many shots probably think a change like this was needed.
Count Jones & Mego co-host Adam Jones in that latter group, and you better believe he made his feelings known on Twitter.
The Celtics have traded Marcus Smart! Yes, I have already thought about canceling my vacation. And yes, I have already called my doctor!! 🍆🍆🍆 — Hoops Jones 🏀🏀🏀 (@JonesWEEI) June 22, 2023
As for you, the people? According to our Twitter poll, 75% of you approve of the trade.
What do you think of the new Celtics trade: Marcus Smart out, Kristaps Porzingis in plus moving 35->25 in this draft and 1st Rder next draft? — WEEI (@WEEI) June 22, 2023
Source: WEEI
