Brad Stevens on losing Marcus Smart: ‘It was something we felt like we had to do’

“As heart wrenching as it was to part with Marcus, it was something we felt like we had to do,” Stevens said. “I said this at the start of the summer,” he explained. “I thought we needed to balance our roster and looked at the best ways to do that. And that meant that we were likely going to lose a really, really, really good player.”
Source: Jay King @ The Athletic

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Will be talking Marcus Smart trade, Kristaps Porzingis fit and what comes next for Celtics in studio with @RealAlexBarth tonight from 8-10pm on @985TheSportsHub. – 5:00 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Marcus Smart says goodbye to Boston and Celtics fans pic.twitter.com/0lJ1RQvdoX4:56 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Perk wasn’t too happy about the Celtics trading Marcus Smart 😯 pic.twitter.com/a7MVFm48iz3:56 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Brad Stevens calls Marcus Smart trade ‘good to do, but hard to do’ bostonsportsjournal.com/2023/06/23/bra…3:21 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens got emotional talking Marcus Smart last night: “He’ll always have Boston for sure. I think Boston really appreciates him, and certainly I do, and he knows we’ll do anything for him.” masslive.com/celtics/2023/0…1:51 PM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens on Jordan Walsh, last night’s 38th pick: “He has a special ability laterally with his wingspan to swallow people up defensively. Like he really creates havoc with his arms and with his energy and with his ability to move his feet.”
masslive.com/celtics/2023/0…1:50 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Can confirm Marcus Smart will still host his 14 League Pro-Am Tournament in Boston’s South End on July 1 & 2
Will feature a dunk contest, DJ, and surprise guests
“We want to get the whole city to support and give @smart_MS3 the send off he deserves” an event rep told me pic.twitter.com/E9zTRKmc5s11:37 AM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Was excited to break out some @ChrisVernonShow impersonations after the Marcus Smart trade. pic.twitter.com/11jJmSQ7l611:28 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
With the clock about to strike midnight & the fantasy of catching a unicorn rapidly fading, Brad Stevens made the ultimate sacrifice.
But why did Marcus Smart go so Kristaps Porzingis could arrive?
“He was already good, but he just took another step.”
theathletic.com/4634583/2023/0… pic.twitter.com/BZieIbuAWU9:43 AM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Recap thread starting with this Marcus Smart feature…
“When the Celtics drafted him, people would say you can’t play hard for 82 games,” Ford said. “I would say, ‘I’m telling ya, he will play every game like it’s a championship game.” dailymemphian.com/subscriber/sec…9:16 AM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
After wild draft night, Brad Stevens reflects on latest offseason moves bostonglobe.com/2023/06/23/spo… via @BostonGlobe – 8:49 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Derrick White has been a big piece of the Celtics since they acquired him. The Marcus Smart trade leaves him a more important part than ever. In some ways, it’s a bet on White.
theathletic.com/4634770/2023/0…8:09 AM
Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
If you went to bed early (again) on Thursday, you missed Brad Stevens go full Belichick while making 4 trades to repeatedly move back in the draft.
In the end, the 25th pick led to selecting Arkansas wing Jordan Walsh at No. 38 while adding these 4 future second-round picks: pic.twitter.com/GQSYf1kqtk7:24 AM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Brad Stevens, emotional, yet stoic in his decision to move on from Marcus Smart said Celtics ‘had to’ trade him to balance the roster. Brad seemed to include Malcolm Brogdon, whose surgery status remains uncertain, as part of the picture to replace Smart: celticsblog.com/2023/6/23/2377… pic.twitter.com/bKyjtJLRs55:07 AM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Brad Stevens on Porzingis-Smart trade:
“I thought that we needed to balance our roster and make sure that we looked at the best ways to do that. And that meant that we were going to likely lose a really, really, really good player.”
Via @TheCelticsWire:
celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/brad-ste…3:07 AM
Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
Boston’s official haul for Marcus Smart …
• Kristaps Porzingis
• Jordan Walsh
• 2024 R1 pick (GSW, top-4 protected)
• 2024 R2 pick (DAL)
• 2025 R2 pick (best of DET, GSW or WAS)
• 2026 R2 pick (best of MIN, NOP, NYK or POR)
• 2027 R2 pick (ATL) – 2:47 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens on Marcus Smart: “I told him when he got here we were 25-57 the year before. And the greatest legacy you can leave is to be someplace and it’s better off because you were there. And I think that everybody here feels that way.” – 2:31 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens on Marcus Smart: “The greatest legacy you can leave is to be someplace and it’s better off because you were there. And I think that everybody here feels that way. I think that he will always be appreciated and thought of so fondly here for any number of reasons.” – 2:27 AM
Memphis Grizzlies PR @GrizzliesPR
The @memgrizz today announced the team acquired Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics in a three-team trade also including the Washington Wizards. pic.twitter.com/nsFnj2tYPv2:19 AM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Celtics officially announce Smart-Porzingis trade in press release
Brad Stevens thanks Marcus Smart: pic.twitter.com/Tm5hHWDZIz2:08 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens on Kristaps Porzingis signing an extension with the Celtics: “We hope so. See how that stuff works itself out. He’s a guy that we think can certainly can be a really good player. He’s been a really good player thus far.” – 2:05 AM
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Signing out from the Forum on draft night.
Passed the Pinnacle level team store. Did not see any Marcus Smart jerseys yet. – 2:04 AM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Brad Stevens asked about how the team is adding assistant coaches:
It’s Joe’s staff, it’s not my staff pic.twitter.com/nX8pytzOdN2:03 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens said Jordan Walsh’s shot has looked better and they had him in twice for workouts. Said Walsh has been a hesitant shooter but they can see him shooting and attacking closeouts in the future. – 2:03 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
When asked about the leadership void after trading Marcus Smart, Brad Stevens praised Tatum and Horford among others & said, “We have a number of people who have been filling that void with Marcus and they’ll just have to be better.” – 2:02 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens said he believes Kristaps Porzingis is “extremely team oriented” and “extremely excited” to join the Celtics. – 2:01 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens mentioned Payton Pritchard and Malcolm Brogdon as guys who will have to step up along with Derrick White to replace Marcus Smart at the point. – 1:57 AM
Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
Brad Stevens: “One of these days I’ll make a first-round pick. It might be a while.” – 1:56 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens on all the picks he’s acquired over the past 24 hours: “I’ll pick a first round pick. It might be a while.” – 1:56 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Brad Stevens: “One of these days I’ll make a first round pick.” – 1:56 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens: “One of these days, I’ll pick a first-round pick. It might be a while.” – 1:56 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens on Kristaps Porzingis: “He brings a lot to our team. You can envision, as I can envision, some of the lineups we can put out there size-wise right now is pretty intriguing – and not without losing any skill at all. And that’s a good thing.” – 1:54 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens on Kristaps Porzingis: “He’s a super-skilled basketball player. We didn’t post a ton this year, but to be able to throw the ball in the post and shoot over a switch…is a big deal.” – 1:54 AM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Brad Stevens calls Porzingis a “deterrent at the rim” pic.twitter.com/alGD6w4IT11:54 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens: “Kristaps can play with any combination of our players. … He has just gotten better and better and better. You see what he was doing this year.” – 1:53 AM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Stevens emphasized that Marcus Smart is going to a good situation in Memphis. – 1:53 AM
Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
Brad Stevens on Malcolm Brogdon: “We’re very confident he’ll be on the court and be good.” – 1:53 AM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Full Brad Stevens comments on trading Marcus Smart pic.twitter.com/gHshVJyF7e1:53 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens said he got a chance to see Marcus Smart at the facility this morning, but their conversation was understandably brief.
“You’ll always have the relationship (that) will be forever.” – 1:53 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens said Marcus Smart came into the Celtics practice facility this morning and they got the chance to see each other. Said their relationship “will be forever.” – 1:53 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens said Marcus Smart came into the facility this morning, so he got to see him. “You’ll always have the relationship that these teammates have, these coaches and everybody in the building has.” – 1:53 AM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Brad Stevens said they’re very confident Malcolm Brogdon, who’s feeling better, will be on the court and good. He wouldn’t discuss other deals that didn’t happen. – 1:52 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Brad Stevens on his trade conversation with Marcus Smart: “It wasn’t very long. Just your best chance to share your gratitude to him.” – 1:52 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens said the Celtics are “very confident” that Malcolm Brogdon will be on the court and “will be good” health wise.” – 1:52 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens says that Malcolm Brogdon will be on the court and good come next season. Surgery will be an option as they monitor how his elbow heals. – 1:51 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Brad Stevens on Malcolm Brogdon injury: “We’re very confident he will be on the court and good (next season).” – 1:51 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens said trading Marcus Smart was really hard, but he will always be “appreciated and thought of so fondly here.” – 1:51 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens got emotional talking about Marcus Smart. Said “he knows we’ll do anything for him but it was hard.” – 1:50 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens on Marcus Smart: “He’ll always have Boston for sure.” – 1:50 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens on Marcus Smart: “I think he will always be appreciated and thought of so fondly here for any number of reasons here. … We are all grateful to have Marcus in our lives for as long as we’ve had.” – 1:50 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens on the decision to trade Marcus Smart: “Really hard.”
Stevens said the Celtics wanted to balance their roster and he knew that would mean losing a “really, really good player.”
“I think that he will always be appreciated and thought of so fondly here” – 1:49 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Brad Stevens on trading Marcus Smart: “It was really hard.” – 1:49 AM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Stevens: “(It was) really hard (to trade Marcus Smart).” – 1:49 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Brad Stevens talking Marcus Smart trade pic.twitter.com/zsgUIBqq2y1:48 AM
Jay King @ByJayKing
Brad Stevens said the Celtics had a list of players tonight they would have been comfortable with. Jordan Walsh was one of those. They were able to get him while stacking up some second round picks. – 1:48 AM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens said they wanted to restock some of the assets they lost over the years with all their deals tonight. – 1:48 AM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Brad Stevens: “When offers came in, (it was about continuing) to rebuild our assets … that we lost over the years … more picks to be used in a variety of ways.” – 1:48 AM
Souichi Terada @SouichiTerada
Brad Stevens presser about to get underway for you night owls. – 1:47 AM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Brad Stevens is here. I believe he’ll address the Kristaps Porzingis trade. – 1:46 AM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Waiting for Brad Stevens…. pic.twitter.com/IY5V0Mkrg91:15 AM
Michael Pina @MichaelVPina
Brad Stevens wonders how many second-round picks the Spurs could get for Wembanyama – 11:39 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Brad Stevens accumulating second rounders pic.twitter.com/1X3TRJu4Jg11:32 PM
Tom Ziller @teamziller
Brad Stevens going full Kahn! – 11:30 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Brad Stevens is just trading in a giant circle – 11:18 PM
Damichael Cole @DamichaelC
Desmond Bane joined the Grind City Media crew during their NBA Draft coverage and gave his thoughts on adding Marcus Smart and losing Tyus Jones.
commercialappeal.com/story/sports/n…11:11 PM
Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
All set up for tonight’s presser with Brad Stevens, still a few hours away pic.twitter.com/pNpGETdOPv11:03 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
NBA trades: Assessing Chris Paul-Jordan Poole, Marcus Smart-Kristaps Porzingis deals and more for @Sportsnaut bit.ly/3Pom7AF pic.twitter.com/CFIIN6wM0g10:25 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Jayson Tatum to Marcus Smart: “We gone link up one day and get us one no doubt about that.” pic.twitter.com/Wduabc32rJ8:40 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Checking in for the early portion of the draft…then a few hours from now Brad Stevens will talk here. pic.twitter.com/LoliMFQ3YW8:10 PM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
“We gone link back up one day.”
Jayson Tatum shared a heartfelt message for Marcus Smart 🥹
(via @jaytatum0 / IG) pic.twitter.com/vzFrXcgCNu8:09 PM
Scott Souza @Scott_Souza
Nashua River Brewers Festival in Fitchburg is Saturday. We have 45 breweries, 3 live bands & tents covering all of them (in case, you know, it rains just a little). Tastings included in admission so feel free to pour one out for Marcus Smart in Boston. patch.com/massachusetts/…8:06 PM
Mark Giannotto @mgiannotto
COLUMN: The Marcus Smart trade was a big swing by the Memphis Grizzlies. I’m glad they took it. They’re betting Smart can be their 4th-best player in a playoff series the next 2-3 years. That doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
commercialappeal.com/story/sports/c… ⁩ – 7:48 PM

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