June 21, 2023
ANALYSISSmart has spent his first nine NBA seasons with the Celtics, scoring in double figures in each of the last four campaigns while starting in all 132 of his appearances across the last two years. In 2022-23, Smart averaged 11.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals per regular season contest while posting 14.9 points, 5.1 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game during the Celtics' playoff run. With
Tyus Jones heading to Washington as part of the deal, Smart, the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is expected to slot into the Grizzlies' starting point guard spot while
Ja Morant serves a 25-game suspension to begin the season. Once Morant returns, the two will likely start together in the backcourt with
Desmond Bane shifting over to small forward.