Marcus Smart, a year after being traded by the Boston Celtics, could be on the move again. According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, the Memphis Grizzlies are exploring the possibility of reuniting Smart with former Celtics coach Ime Udoka.
“The idea that the Rockets could trade Wednesday’s No. 3 overall pick to Memphis for No. 9 and Marcus Smart — so the Grizzlies can draft Donovan Clingan — is being mentioned with increasing regularity by various league insiders,” Stein wrote in a story published on June 24.
Udoka previously coached the Celtics during the 2021-22 season before being banned and then fired for misconduct. After taking a break from coaching during the 2022-23 season, he completed his first year as Rockets head coach.
Smart, regardless of who he plays for, will begin the 2024-25 season after the most injury-plagued season of his career. He appeared in 20 games with the Grizzlies, having missed the majority of the season due to injuries. He and Udoka have vast experience with one another. Udoka coached Smart for both the Celtics and Team USA in 2019.
Smart will start the third year of a four-year contract worth $76 million. The Rockets ended with a record of
Marcus Smart Gets Candid on Celtics Title
Smart was instrumental in helping the Celtics remain a consistent playoff challenger year after year. Between 2014 and 2023, the Celtics made the playoffs every year with Smart on the roster. After witnessing the Celtics win their 18th championship without him, Smart shared his unvarnished opinion on the situation.
“I know everybody’s expecting me to be salty,” he stated on the June 25 episode of “Run Your Race.” “There is no animosity. It’s certainly a bittersweet feeling. It’s really difficult because I was in the trenches alongside them. It’s frustrating not to be able to continue what you started with those folks.”
Smart also expressed his delight at Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s joint victory.
“It was great to see those two guys come in the way that they came in and just dominate,” Smart remarked during “Run Your Race.”
“When they stepped onto the floor, you were like, ‘We gotta watch out.'” They were unstoppable from the beginning. That is what we saw. We observed it. That’s why they’re where they are today. Shoutout to Jaylen, Jayson, and the Boston Celtics. Congratulations on the championship.
Marcus Smart Says He Rooted for Celtics in NBA Finals
Smart also stated that he supported his former Celtics colleagues during the NBA Finals due of his tight relationship with them.
“My wife will tell you, I was screaming for those guys when they won it, just as much as anyone else,” he told reporters. “Like I said, I have love for those guys, and I know the work that they put in.”
Though Smart stated that it was difficult to see the Celtics win, he plainly has no ill will against anyone in Boston.
