Following Thursday’s NBA Draft, Boston Celtics president Brad Stevens hit the conference podium and addressed the media about the franchise’s plans, status, and transactions – which includes the recently stunning Marcus Smart trade.
Like the entire Beantown fandom, Stevens can only admit that the decision he made delivered a painful sensation to him given the fact that Smart has solidified himself as a Celtic for life since his arrival nine years ago.
“I mean it’s really hard. I said this at the start of the summer. I thought that we needed to balance our roster and make sure that we look to best ways to do that, and that meant we were gonna likely lose a really, really, really good player,” he said.
“As far as Marcus, as I told him when he got here, we were 25-57 a year before. The greatest legacy that you can leave is to leave someplace and it’s better off because you were there. I think that everybody here feels that way. He will always be appreciated and thought of so fondly here, for any number of reasons.”
Following the collapse of the initial Kristaps Porzingis trade with both the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Stevens aggressively looked for options to ultimately land the Latvian star. But it meant he and the franchise make a major sacrifice by cutting their ties with Smart – an unlikely pick to get booted from the team’s backcourt logjam given his robust franchise familiarity.
Boston executed a new three-team trade with the Wizards and the Memphis Grizzlies. They acquired Porzingis and several draft assets but parted ways with the fan-favorite guard as well as Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala in return.
On behalf of the entire Celtics nation, Stevens expressed his deepest gratitude to Smart for his contributions on and off the court since 2014. As such, he believes that the veteran will ultimately hand a major swing to the promising Grizzlies team.
Memphis desperately hunted for a proven, respectable leader, and the addition of Smart is beyond an outstanding move to change the dynamics of their culture in the wake of Ja Morant’s back-to-back gun controversies and Dillon Brooks’ free agency exit.
“Obviously everybody love the way he plays – how hard he plays – but also his work in the community. We’re all really grateful to have Marcus in our lives as long as we have,” Stevens said. “We are sad to see him go, but we know that he’s gonna have huge impact to that really good Memphis team.”
Still, Boston fans and the Celtics organization will surely take a long time to heal from the wounds and completely process Smart’s departure.
Smart ushered the Celtics culture following the franchise’ “Big 3” era of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Wearing his badge of courage and honor on a nightly basis, he enchanted the entire fandom with his hustle, defense, reliability, and leadership.
Boasting his 2021 Defensive Player award, three All-Defense selections, and three Hustle Awards plums, Smart ascended as the heart and soul of the Celtics throughout the years. He helped the franchise to reach new heights as throughout his tenure there, Boston has been a strongly consistent postseason participant which is highlighted by an NBA Finals finish last year.
“Very difficult. Very difficult conversations. Really hard to do,” Stevens continued. “He’ll always have Boston for sure.
“I think that Boston really appreciates him and certainly I do. He knows we’ll do everything for him, but it was hard.”
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