Smart ready to share in Memphis
It’s been a few weeks since the stunning Marcus Smart trade and Smart has had time to reflect on his Celtics days, as well as look forward to his new team and new challenge.
There was less disappointment when Smart talked for the first time with the Memphis media this month in Las Vegas, and it appears he is warming to the situation.
Smart said he understands the similarities regarding his arrival in Memphis and that of former Celtic Tony Allen, who left Boston after 2010 to sign with the Grizzlies only because they offered him a guaranteed third year in the contract. Allen would help change the culture of the Grizzlies, garnering the nickname, “The Grindfather.”
“It’s crazy, I was looking it up, Oklahoma State, Boston Celtics, and now [Memphis],” Smart said. “It was funny because when I first met Tony Allen, I was at the Top 100 camp when I was in high school and he was one of the camp counselors.”
Smart explained that one of the campers was scorching opponents oneon-one and Allen asked any of the other players if they could stop this player. Smart volunteered. Allen then noticed Smart was an Oklahoma State commit and when he stopped his opponent from scoring, Allen went into a frenzy.
“I already know. He’s going to Oklahoma State. He got that dawg in him,” Allen said.
“Right then and there we had that bond,” Smart said. “And to see how our careers have been similar has been kind of crazy.”
The Grizzlies are a talented team that dealt with maturity issues last season, prompting the club to pass on resigning Dillon Brooks, while adding Smart and former MVP Derrick Rose to help with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
“They can run and they can jump and they’re willing to go out there and do it every night,” Smart said. “I’m excited just to be able to get out there with those guys. I’m an old man [29] now so they are going to make me feel younger.
“For me, to come out and compete like I do, I don’t take that for granted or lightly. So all my experiences, my downfalls as well and not making it to reach my final goal. I’m always trying to figure out what I can do better to make sure I can get over that hump, and so for me to be able to bring that to a team who is really close, I think it’s going to be huge. I understand these guys are young and they haven’t been in that [championship] battle yet.”
Smart has been repeatedly asked about his relationship with Morant, who has been suspended for the first 25 games of the season for brandishing a gun on social media for the second time in three months. Grizzlies management responded by adding Rose and Smart as potential mentors.
“Ja is a very special player and he’s very important to his team,” Smart said. “For us to do anything great we’re going to need Ja. And we’re going to need Ja to be the best he can be.
“So for me, as a competitor I love to push guys to the limit, especially a guy who’s great. I’ve done it in Boston with those guys, and those are my brothers, and I want to be able to have the same relationship with Ja.”
Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman made it clear the Grizzlies have been interested in Smart for years and this wasn’t the first time they’ve approached the Celtics about his availability.
“When we took a step back coming out of last season and said what are the things that we’re looking to add, you put up the boxes that you’re trying to check,” Kleiman said. “We’re looking for someone who could be the lockdown defender, versatile across positions. We’re looking for more playmaking. We’re looking for someone who’s battletested at the highest levels of the NBA. I don’t think there’s many players and Marcus is the very best of them who checks all those boxes.
“To be able to bring that type of player, that type of person into this organization, but much more importantly, someone who passes the gut test.
“Marcus is someone who is just a flat-out winner, someone who has willed his team through the playoff series into the Finals. This is the type of person who I believe is going to help us really elevate the group and get to where we want to get to. Winning the first championship in Memphis. We’re really excited about what we’ve been able to do.”