2 reasons why Grizzlies should trade Marcus Smart, 2 why they shouldn't
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.