Despite Jrue Holiday’s “massive upgrade,” losing Marcus Smart hurt Boston Celtics fans, according to Chowder and Champions’ Devon Platana, as well as most Cs fans reading this right now.
“While Holiday is a massive upgrade over Smart, it doesn’t make the latter’s departure any less painful — especially given how it happened,” Platana said, referring to Brad Stevens’ apparent failure to notify Smart that he had been traded. “Hopefully, Stevens’ error was a one-time occurrence. Front-office transparency and loyalty are critical to attracting and retaining players.”
Smart told The Athletic’s Jared Weiss (subscription required) that he was assured he wouldn’t be traded before being sent away in the deal that brought back Kristaps Porzingis and two first-round draft picks — which facilitated the Holiday trade.
“Like, ‘I’m hearing (rumors), what’s up?'” “And [the Celtics] are like, ‘No, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good’ — and then when I do hear about the trade, it’s from Shams (Charania) on Twitter before I hear from the team,” Smart said to Weiss.
Marcus Smart’s shot selection to Kristaps Porzingis’ is the true Boston Celtics upgrade.
In reality, it was Porzingis, not Holiday, who took over Smart’s role in the offense during the Celtics’ season opener against the New York Knicks on October 25 at Madison Square Garden. In 2022-23, Smart averaged six free throws per game, while Porzingis averaged ten in his Cs debut. Holiday never got to the free-throw line. Porzingis was the one taking catch-and-shoot threes late in the fourth quarter against the Knicks, just like Smart used to.
It’s not a holiday.
Porzingis’ impact on the game has taken the place of Smart’s. At this rate, the marquee offseason acquisition could end up being one of the all-time great trade steals.
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