The Memphis Grizzlies were a part of a blockbuster deal on Wednesday night, trading Tyus Jones and two first-round picks in a deal that landed them former Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart.
The deal between Memphis, Boston and Washington has implications for the 2023 NBA Draft, as the Grizzlies moved the No. 25 overall pick to Boston in the trade.
Here are the full trade details:
Full trade details 🚨
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 22, 2023
Celtics receive:
- Kristaps Porziņģis
- 2023 No. 25 pick (via MEM)
- 2024 GSW first-round pick (via MEM)
Grizzlies receive:
- Marcus Smart
Wizards receive:
- Tyus Jones
- Danilo Gallinari
- Mike Muscala
- 2023 No. 35 pick (via BOS)
(via @wojespn) pic.twitter.com/zjCbBBq4fM
Following the deal, the Grizzlies’ NBA Finals odds settled at +2500 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Memphis is facing a tough battle with Ja Morant suspended for the first 25 games of the season, but could Smart be the right fit to help the team succeed without him?
Grizzlies’ odds to win the NBA Finals
Oddsmakers aren’t totally sold on the Grizzlies, and that makes sense since the team needs to stay afloat without Morant.
Smart, however, is a great fit for this team.
Not only can he play the point guard spot while Morant is out, but the former Defensive Player of the Year Award winner is a better version of Dillon Brooks (a free agent for Memphis) defensively.
Adding Smart now gives the Grizzlies each of the NBA’s last two DPOY winners (Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr.).
The Grizzlies have yet to make a Western Conference Finals with this core, but Smart has plenty of playoff experience and should be able to mitigate some of the loss of Morant.
Memphis paid a hefty price, but this could be a deal that pays off long term. For now, taking a shot on the Grizzlies’ odds is nothing more than a value play since things could change drastically in the season’s first 25 games.
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Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.