Is Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart playing tonight vs Hawks?

During a summer filled with electrifying news and a bevy of shakeups, easily the biggest decision made by this Memphis Grizzlies front office was to acquire veteran guard, Marcus Smart.

Added via multi-team deal involving the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, the defensive stalwart comes to Grind City to serve many purposes, with perhaps the most important ones being to take on the role of lead floor general during Ja Morant’s initial 25-game suspension to start the season and to provide much-needed seasoned mentorship to the locker room.

While the consensus opinion seems to be that the addition of the 29-year-old will now make the Grizzlies even more “scary” for opposing clubs to go up against, to this point fans have yet to see their new $76 million man step foot on the hardwood for in-game action while donning the navy, blue, and gold threads, as he has been held out for their first two preseason contests with an abdominal injury.

With Thursday night’s exhibition against the Atlanta Hawks rapidly approaching, many are wondering if preseason game number three will provide spectators with their first taste of a Smart-infused lineup.

Is Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart playing tonight vs the Atlanta Hawks?

Per Memphis News beat writer Demichael Cole, the point guard’s debut for the Grizzlies will be pushed back yet again, as he reported that Smart “won’t be available” for their upcoming bout.

Though upsetting, this news shouldn’t come as all that great of a shock for those who have been keeping up with Cole’s reports over the past week or so, for he has gone on record suggesting that while the veteran’s ailment is not believed to be serious, the Grizzlies are simply “being cautious” when it comes to his recovery.

Following their upcoming game in Atlanta, Memphis will have two more preseason stops scheduled for Sunday, October 15 in Miami and then Friday, October 20 in Milwaukee before their October 25 regular season tip-off against the Pelicans comes about.

While many are hoping to see Smart get some in-game run with the team prior to the regular season, there is a chance he ends up making his first appearance in a Grizzlies uniform during game one versus NOLA.

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