Credit: Twitter
The sixth overall by the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft, Marcus Smart, who was considered the heart and soul of the franchise, is set to join Memphis Grizzlies in the next season as the Celtics part ways with the 29-year-old guard after nine years. However, the transfer deal came as a 'shock' to Smart, who recently revealed that the deal came after he was told "there were no trade talks" involving him.
As part of the three-team deal, Boston traded Marcus Smart to Memphis and acquired Kristaps Porzingis from Washington Wizards. In recent weeks, Jaylen Brown reached out to Smart through a call while Jayson Tatum posted an Instagram story where he promised to reunite one day and win the championship together.
While talking to the reporters at a pro-am game he hosted in Stoughton, Mass, Smart said, " I was actually asleep, and my agent called my fiancée. She woke me up out of a sleep. It was right after the deal had been made, and I think Shams (Charania of The Athletic) had already tweeted it out. That's how we found out."
The most shocking part of the deal for Smart was that he was traded after he was assured of not getting traded. However, the former Celtics guard understands the nature of the trade and holds no hard feelings for the franchise.
Speaking at The 14 League at Dana Barros Basketball Club, Smart said, "I went to the gym next day to get my stuff, talked to Brad (Stevens) and Joe (Mazzulla). It was definitely shocking to find out that way, especially because the week before, I was already told we were good, there were no trade talks with me and we were good... I understand it’s a business. For me, it’s just the courtesy."
Although the trade came as a 'shock' to Smart, he turned down the rumors of having a beef with his former teammate and Celtics forward Jaylen Brown. He said, "We’ve been through a lot together, we’ve been through the fire. My mom passed away and J.B. was actually one of people on that plane that came to Dallas to the funeral. So I just want to shut all the rumors down now that me and J.B. had beef. I have no beef with anybody with the Celtics, none of my teammates."
