While many fans of the Boston Celtics are cautiously optimistic about the trade that brought star big man Kristaps Porzingis to the team, others are not so sure about the move, which cost the team veteran point guard Marcus Smart. Among them is Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, who sees the deal as among the most likely to be seen negatively in three years.
While on the surface it seems like a good value trade, losing Smart’s leadership, playmaking, and defensive prowess could impact the Celtics on and off the court. according to the B/R analyst. “Once referred to as “the heart and soul of this team” by Jaylen Brown, Smart was Boston’s best passer and only one season removed from winning Defensive Player of the Year,” recalls Swartz.
“He gets the Celtics into their offensive sets, calls teammates out if necessary, and can start fires when they clearly need a spark.”
“With Porzingis averaging only 54 games per season over the past four years since returning from a torn ACL, durability will continue to be a major concern moving forward,” he suggests.
“This trade may look fine now, but it has the potential to turn disastrous in a few years.”
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