After finding themselves entering an early offseason following a regular season that was riddled with injuries and record-breaking starting lineups, the Memphis Grizzlies have several decisions to make regarding the future of the team’s lineups, including the essential starting backcourt.
Naturally, when discussing the makeup of Taylor Jenkins’ rotation, there will always be a strong emphasis on maximizing the potential and strengths of starting point guard Ja Morant.
The superstar has helped redefine the franchise as more than just a small market team that plunges into the deep end within the intense Western Conference.
Just under a year ago, the Grizzlies traded with the Boston Celtics to acquire 2021-2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to bolster their backcourt, hoping to build off of the intense defensive prowess of the team.
In trying to solidify the backcourt rotation, Memphis additionally brought in veteran Derrick Rose to add to their depth and supplement guards such as Desmond Bane and Jordan Goodwin.
Within all of this, there is the clear question as to how the team should approach not only a starting lineup and the potential bench unit but also how much value they view Smart to have and how other teams perceive him.
Among candidates that will reasonably inquire about the trade cost for the combo guard, key playoff teams in both conferences will likely join the hunt, including one prominent Eastern Conference team potentially looking to shake up its backcourt.
Where will Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart be at the start of next season?
It’s entirely feasible to view Smart as a cornerstone piece on a team with championship hopes — A crafty and energetic defender who can also help facilitate an offense to best capitalize on the strengths of a team.
However, should other teams inquire about Smart’s availability, the Grizzlies would be wise to field calls if there is a substantial trade package possibility.
With that being said, there are merits to both keeping and trading the 30-year-old, as he’ll be entering his eleventh season and his recent DPOY honors can help to magnify his potential value on the trade block.
Argument to keep Marcus Smart No. 1) Defensive versatility
Looking at the Marcus Smart trade on paper, it seems obvious why the Grizzlies would want to bring him in.
The veteran brings two-way intangibles to a team already brimming with intensity and focus but is looking to elevate itself to the caliber of contending with the best of the rest that the NBA has.
Adding Smart to the Grizzlies was a show of faith by the team’s leadership that the mentality of playing energized and tough defensively could help propel the team forward and stand out even among the fearsome Western Conference.
Despite their less-than-ideal season that included Smart himself playing a limited number of games, there is a hopeful outlook for next season that he can return to form and provide more of the flashes that came up during his 20 active games this past season.
Even within a brand new team system, there was little doubt about the tenacity and grit Smart had previously provided on the Celtics even as they made a run to the finals.
Among defenders, Marcus Smart is notorious for his energy and quick maneuvering as well as his willingness to put his entire body on the line on any given play. Players of this nature can help to push a team with incredible offensive and defensive prowess to become even more lethal.
In terms of preparing for the competition, bringing Smart to the Grizzlies was a move made to best capitalize on a young team that is strong defensively, but can further benefit from having another natural leader added to the backcourt.
Smart is a logical puzzle piece to compete with other teams across the league who will demand defensive attention against both backcourts and frontcourts, and will keep the Grizzlies on their toes constantly.
Argument to trade Marcus Smart No. 1) Capitalizing on value
When the blockbuster trade initially occurred last summer, there was a strong expectation that the former first-team all-defense honoree would provide an impact on this Grizzlies team that still had to figure out its backcourt identity.
The trade, logically, was aimed to address any sort of question-marks concerning whether or not star point guard Ja Morant could successfully orchestrate the offense while also maintaining a slew of highlight-reel-worthy plays.
Naturally, this past season for the Grizzlies very quickly turned sour as a plethora of injuries left the team with minimal footage to work from for what did and didn’t work for them.
Despite all of this, Smart still managed to find himself taking part in several highlight plays, all of which could be taken straight from a team that looked like it could compete with just about anyone.
Beyond the thrill of his debut and some impressive games, Smart’s injury-shorted season felt rather lackluster to look at after all of the offseason hype.
After suffering both an ankle and finger injury, which added to an impressively long list of health-related ailments the team was already dealing with, Smart’s season was hindered and whatever was left of the preseason expectation of him seemed to fade.
With that being said, there is still a clear value to a high-intensity, defensive-minded guard, and it’s hard to imagine that other teams won’t eye the Grizzlies in the offseason with the thought of prying him away.
While it wouldn’t be entirely unrealistic for Memphis to retain Smart for his remaining contract years, they could opt to shop him while his value is still relatively high, and, ideally, before a more serious injury potentially occurs.
Smart still has two remaining years on his contract, and while it is by no means a meager amount for other teams, its feasible that teams looking to fortify themselves would be willing to accept the financial implications.
Playing a high-octane style of basketball as Marcus Smart does comes with its benefits and woes. The Memphis Grizzlies could still manage to capitalize greatly on the still relatively young guard, but there could be a sway in mindset to try and upgrade further and trade him in the offseason.
Argument to keep Marcus Smart No. 2) Greasing the offensive engine
When trading for a player with all-defensive honors as well as a Defensive Player of the Year award, there’s an obvious expectation for said player to anchor a team and take a primarily one-sided role to best maximize their abilities.
With Marcus Smart, there is a dual-sided expectation of him to be utilized on both the offensive and defensive end, which is reasonable given the former’s capacity to lock down even star-level players and provide on-court guidance for offensive pieces the Grizzlies possess.
Naturally, the maestro of the Grizzlies has been Ja Morant recently as the up-and-coming superstar continues to refine his craft, but, ideally, will accept aid from the veteran in easing up on the need for constant court vision.
This ability to keep the offense flowing is essential to what makes Smart even more deadly. Despite only averaging 4.3 assists this past season with a brand new team, Smart averaged a more impressive 6.3 assists per game during his prior 2022-2023 season with the Boston Celtics.
This level of versatility sets Smart apart from prototypical defensive minded guards, and adds an immense amount of value to his presence on the court and with the team as a whole.
Beyond providing a two-way presence, Smart serves as a perfect piece in solidifying a formidable backcourt rotation for the Grizzlies, including the former alongside obvious starter Ja Morant, and essential pieces such as Derrick Rose and Desmond Bane.
As a whole, adding a versatile guard to the rotation is one that comes with immediate upside, and given that Smart will still be under contract for a non-colossal amount, the Grizzlies should look to the upside for how well next season has the potential to go.
Argument to trade Marcus Smart No. 2) Highs and lows
Within the NBA’s modern era, the emphasis on three-point shooting has gone from impressive to overwhelming to oppressive. Smart perfectly encapsulates exactly why this high-risk and reward style of play can have a wide range of results
As a perimeter player, a significant piece of Smart’s value comes on the defensive end, as he can switch onto just about anyone and provide quick rotations to keep the Grizzlies’ defense ready for whatever may be thrown at them.
Offensively, the eleventh-year vet has been known for nifty paint moves and simply driving himself with as much force around the rim as humanly possible.
At the same time, there have been times when a player such as Smart has become heavily reliant on three-point shooting despite only being a career 32.3 percent long-range shooter.
While this would logically dictate that Smart should work to take fewer triples, there have still been times when his three-point shooting turns prolific and seems virtually unstoppable.
Situations like this would paint Smart as a truly dominant two-way player, who can go from one end of the floor guarding the best player on the opposing team back down the court to the wing for a lightning-quick release three-pointer.
All of this together, however, paints a bigger picture as to how volatile Smart can be. This would serve as a reasonable red flag for the Grizzlies to consider shifting him elsewhere if they choose to not accept the risk of a polarizing performance from game to game.
At the same time, situations where Smart is firing on all cylinders provide excellent concrete evidence for why another team may opt to pry him away from Memphis during the offseason.
Smart business: Making the most of the trade and not trading
When the trade for Marcus Smart was initially announced, there was an understandable outcry across the league from Western Conference teams who knew that the daunting Grizzlies had become even more tenacious, and from Celtics fans bemoaning the loss of their beloved point guard.
Inside the trade itself, Memphis sent the 25th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft as well as a 2024 first-round pick that they held from the Golden State Warriors to compensate the Celtics for Smart.
This trade followed logical reasoning from Memphis, which was that there was already a plethora of young talent on the team and late first-rounders would potentially receive very little if any playing time whatsoever.
Adding a veteran guard like Smart to the team ensures that there is a more practical balance on the team of young players looking to find their footing, and more seasoned players who can apply their experiences to teach their teammates around them.
While the Grizzlies’ season ended up being anything but ideal, the highlight-worthy moments Smart was a part of encapsulate perfectly just why Memphis would be willing to give up draft capital.
When looking at the potential for trading Smart, it seems unlikely that another team would be willing to give up even the same level of assets that Memphis did due to his shaky season being hindered by injuries, but Memphis has little to lose from hanging onto him for at least another season.
Furthermore, sending Smart out would put the Grizzlies in a position yet again to fulfill the role that Dillon Brooks had previously provided — A tenacious and rugged defender who can complement Ja Morant in the backcourt.
In its entirety, Memphis has a great deal of upside to look forward to with Smart, but should be wise and keep an open mind.
There’s little harm in hearing out other teams as to a theorized trade offer, and if the moment is right where the Grizzlies can significantly upgrade by sending the point guard elsewhere, it’s possible that he may start on an entirely different team next season.