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Marcus Smart is about to start his first season with the Memphis Grizzlies. Before playing his first game in the Western Conference, Smart took a swipe at his former team, the Boston Celtics, while talking with The Athletic’s Jared Weiss.
“You always want to be where you’re wanted, and another team’s trash is another team’s gold. So I’m glad to be here,” Smart said in an October 24 story. “I’m glad to be on an organization that wants me and sees me (have) great value. So I’m ecstatic, and I’m ready to get going.”
Smart added that he thought a trade was coming, but according to him, the Celtics told him otherwise before trading him.
“If I’m being quite frank, I knew I would be traded eventually,” Smart said. “Just figured it would be the next season, just based off my contract and with the new CBA. We already knew that. But it was just the way it happened. I was told everything was good after asking multiple times. Like, ‘I’m hearing (rumors), what’s going on?’ And they’re like, ‘No, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good.’ And then when I do hear about the trade, it’s from Shams (Charania) on Twitter before I hear from the team.”
The Celtics faced a tough choice because Kristaps Porzingis planned to opt out of his contract if the Celtics didn’t trade for him. However, Smart’s feelings are justified.
Jrue Holiday Raves About Marcus Smart
On October 4, the day the Celtics introduced Jrue Holiday, he spoke very glowingly of Marcus Smart.
“I think we have a good relationship. I always have been a fan of his, especially because of the way that he plays. How he gets under people’s skin. What he does for the game of basketball, in my opinion, sometimes goes unnoticed. (I’m) super happy for him for winning Defensive Player of the Year. Especially as a guard, I know what it’s like and how hard it is to guard 1-5 and not getting that much credit for it, but to see him do it has been awesome,” Holiday said while talking to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston on October 4.
Holiday also commented on the prospect of playing with Smart.
“I would have loved to play with him, but we know how this business goes. I think for me to step in here and make my imprint, and show my game and do what I do is going to be fun for me.”
Holiday and Smart are considered two of the better defenders in the NBA. The prospect of them playing together would have been fun, but Holiday won’t have to fret too much since he’ll be playing next to Derrick White.
Celtics Don’t Extend Derrick White: Report
On October 24, MassLive’s Brian Robb confirmed that the Celtics failed to reach an extension with Derrick White.
“A league source confirmed to MassLive the team did not reach a contract extension with Derrick White ahead of Monday’s deadline for veteran extensions for players with two years left on their deal,” Robb reported.
Robb added that the Celtics already have some expensive contracts on payroll, but there were positive talks with White’s camp.
“Boston has plenty of pricy long-term deals on their books already in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis, so it’s no surprise they weren’t able to reach White’s asking price despite positive talks with his camp, per sources.”
The Celtics will have another chance to extend White. Even if they have plenty of money committed to other players, letting White leave for nothing would be a mistake.
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