(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics didn’t waste any time once they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games by the Miami Heat, as Brad Stevens and company headed into the offseason with plans to improve the roster to take the next step.
Unfortunately for Marcus Smart, the Celtics prioritized bringing in another talented scorer with size over a defensive-minded guard that might be on the downside of his NBA career.
Although the Celtics first tried to move the injury-prone Malcolm Brogdon in the trade for star forward Kristaps Porzingis, the deal was reworked due to concern over Brogdon’s health, resulting in Smart being shipped to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Along with Smart being blindsided by this trade, there’s been talk of some bad blood between him and Jaylen Brown, but he set the record straight after that rumor started to circulate via Celtics reporter Josue Pavon.
Spoke to Marcus Smart today & he wanted to make one thing crystal clear: there’s no beef between him & Jaylen Brown
“Jayson & Jaylen are my brothers for life and I don’t think what people see is enough of what our relationship really is. We’ve been through a lot together… (1/2)
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) July 2, 2023
Although Smart was devastated by this trade and will clearly miss Brown and Jayson Tatum, who he’s been teammates with ever since they were drafted, he is going to a potentially good situation in Memphis.
Even though superstar guard Ja Morant will be serving a 25-game suspension to start next season, the Grizzlies are still considered a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference and will need Smart more than ever once the 2023-24 campaign gets underway.
As for Brown, the Celtics star will likely get paid this summer as he is now eligible for a supermax contract extension due to making an All-NBA Team, which means he’s likely not going anywhere anytime soon.
The post Marcus Smart Clears The Air About His Relationship With Jaylen Brown appeared first on The Cold Wire.