A summation of Marcus Smart’s projected role with Grizzlies
By Mark Nilon
With Ja Morant’s impending 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 campaign, Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report has justly pointed out that the greatest challenge for the Memphis Grizzlies relates to how well their plans and preparations will play out in an attempt to make up for his absence.
This summer, GM Zach Kleiman made the bold decision to acquire veteran Marcus Smart via a multi-team blockbuster trade involving the Boston Celtics, and the obvious hope of this transaction is that he can step up to serve as the lead guard within Taylor Jenkins’ rotation for the first few months of the season until their superstar returns to action.
However, as Swartz intelligibly pointed out in his recently published piece, the soon-to-be ten-year pro should not be seen as someone who will look to recreate the style of play that Morant showcases on the hardwood. Instead, the belief is that Smart will look to bring his own brand of ball to this hungry Grizzlies team’s rotation, which could actually prove to be rather beneficial.
“Smart, 29, isn’t going to replicate Morant’s scoring output or athleticism. He can run the Grizzlies’ offense, however, is a talented passer and proven veteran who’s a better defender than Morant. Smart’s role will be to make sure players like Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are getting their touches while playing high-level defense and keeping Memphis in the playoff hunt,” Swartz wrote.
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Swartz would continue on to highlight the fact that despite Smart’s depiction as being a replacement option for Morant in his absence, upon his return the veteran’s usage may not even wind up being all that negatively impacted, as he envisions Grizzlies fans will “likely see a lot of three-guard lineups featuring Bane.”
Smart has proven himself to be a tenacious two-way contributor throughout his NBA tenure and is coming into his first year in Memphis fresh off a 2022-23 campaign where he posted per-game averages of 11.5 points, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while helping the Celtics advance to their second straight conference finals appearance.
Along with his counting stats, the point guard also finds himself boasting impressive career accolades that include three All-Defensive nods and a Defensive Player of the Year award.
