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Analyst claims Grizzlies’ $76 million addition makes club “devastating”

By Mark Nilon

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 04: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 04, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 04: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 04, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies have managed to become one of the hottest clubs this offseason what with general manager Zach Kleiman’s wheeling and dealing ways. Easily their most notable transaction to date was the multi-team blockbuster that landed the franchise defensive stalwart Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics.

Lauded by fans and media pundits alike, the veteran’s arrival provides the Grizzlies with many much-needed luxuries such as backcourt depth, defensive intensity, and overall leadership.

In a recent piece by Bleacher Report that graded all the top trades so far this summer, the Smart deal earned the club an “A,” with writer Andy Bailey going as far as to say that his addition to the rotation could go on to create a truly “devastating” two-way lineup.

“Smart is a huge addition for the Grizzlies, who will plug him in as the team’s starting point guard while Ja Morant serves a 25-game suspension. A lineup of Morant, Smart, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams could be devastating on both ends of the ball as well,” Bailey wrote.

Throughout his nine-year NBA career, Marcus Smart has proven himself to be one of the game’s best players on the less glamorous side of the ball. In 2021-22, the veteran became the first guard since 1996 to earn the league’s prestigious Defensive Player of the Year award and, during his tenure in the association, has been selected three times to the league’s All-Defensive First Team.

Of course, Marcus Smart provides far more than just defensive abilities, as he’s proven himself to be a quality overall starting one throughout these past few seasons with the title-contending Celtics.

Since 2019-20, the 29-year-old has been sporting per-game averages of 12.4 points, 5.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.6 steals and holds an offensive rating of 111. For comparison’s sake, Ja Morant boasts an offensive rating of 112 for his career.

His trade to the Grizzlies may prove to have the greatest of impacts from an individual perspective early on during the upcoming 2023-24 campaign, as he’s expected to serve as the club’s starting point guard during Ja Morant’s 25-game suspension, but Andy Bailey believes that once their superstar returns, Memphis as a collective could be truly menacing.

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