(Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)
The Boston Celtics made a very impactful move in the offseason, getting Kristaps Porzingis and signing him to a contract extension.
Porzingis was seemingly a better fit for what they needed at the moment, but they had to pay quite a steep price to get the deal done.
Losing Marcus Smart was a massive blow to their defense and their leadership, but it had to be done.
At least, that’s what GM Brad Stevens told Jones & Mego with Arcand.
He said that the Celtics need Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to take a step forward as leaders.
Brad Stevens addresses trading Marcus Smart and says they need Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to take that role, “We need Jayson and Jaylen to continue to grow in that area, and I think they’re among the best that they can be, and we need them to step up to that.” pic.twitter.com/RppeNRxlwd
— Jones & Mego with Arcand (@JonesandMego) August 29, 2023
Brown and Tatum have proven that they can coexist and dominate in the regular season, but some believe they don’t complement each other well enough to get the job done in the postseason.
Also, Tatum has had his fair share of struggles in big moments, and while he’s gone to great lengths to put that narrative to rest and had some big moments last season, he still needs to do it in the NBA Finals.
As for Brown, he was more consistent than Tatum in the playoffs more often than not, but he left a lot to be desired with his performances in the last postseason.
Smart had been the heart and soul of the team and the locker room leader since he arrived in Boston.
The team will definitely miss his pesky and physical defense, and his hard-nosed style and strong presence will do wonders for the Memphis Grizzlies’ locker room, especially if he mentors Ja Morant.
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