On the eve of the Draft, we can say that this exchange surprised many, but after spending his first nine NBA seasons with the Celtics, Marcus Smart is now a member of Grizzlies. A great deal for the Tennessee franchise, while Ja Morant, suspended, will not be able to play the first 25 games of the next season.
And, this, even if it was necessary to let go of an important element of the locker room of Memphis in the transaction, namely Tyus Jones (left for Washington), who will not be forgotten by his now ex-teammate, Desmond Bane.
” First of all, you have to know that I hate seeing Tyus [Jones] leave », he confided on the sidelines of the Draft. “ He was great for us and especially for me, as a leader, as a veteran and also as a cool guy off the pitch. »
The “successor” to Dillon Brooks… but better?
Like Brad Stevens with Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane wanted to pay tribute to Tyus Jones but, once the emotion of the transfer was put aside, the 25-year-old returned for the first time to what the transfer will bring. arrival of the former Boston point guard in the game.
” Marcus Smart will bring a lot to the team “, he assures as well. ” I think that you [les fans] will love it. He’ll kind of bring the same as Dillon [Brooks]. A little more besides, in terms of creation. It’s gonna be fun. »
Without Dillon Brooks, therefore, one of the areas where Marcus Smart will be very important in Memphis is of course in defense, he who is none other than the Defender of the Year 2022. In other words, the predecessor of a certain… Jaren Jackson Jr. (consecrated in 2023).
” I don’t know if there has ever been a team that was able to count the last two Defenders of the Year in its ranks. asks Desmond Bane, who had tweeted on this point. ” We already had a superb defense last season and it will go up a notch next season, allowing Ja Morant, myself and everyone in the team to go on the counter-attack to play on our strength. . »
To answer the Grizzlies player, it is indeed the first time in history that the last two winners of the “Defensive Player of the Year” trophy will evolve together directly after their coronations (and not a few years later).
