Following the announcement of the suspension for 25 matches of Ja Morant, the leaders of Memphis have negotiated their summer recruitment rather well, and it is the arrival of Marcus Smart which marked the spirits. Even though Tyus Jones had always handled the interim perfectly, management felt that they lacked a big defender and a super leader on the back lines, and they sacrificed Jones to bring in the Celtics point guard. A choice that delights Jaren Jackson Jr.
“Oh, it rocks” responds Jaren Jackson Jr. about the arrival of Marcus Smart this summer. “I’ve already texted him. It’s great to have a player like him, able to play on both sides of the pitch, who has been immersed in a culture of champions. »
A reaction reminiscent of that of Desmond Bane: “Marcus Smart will bring a lot to the team”he confided to the announcement of the transfer. ” 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. 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. . »
“His state of mind will do a lot of good in the locker room”
It is true that on paper, the scheme is enough to scare opponents with Marcus Smart in defensive lock on the back lines and Jaren Jackson in the racket. Something to remember the best years of the “Grit and Grind” of Mike Conley, Tony Allen and Marc Gasol.
“We know what he can bring to a team. His passion, his courage… He knows basketball so well. His state of mind will do a lot of good in the locker room. All that stuff. So he’s a great recruit.” continues inside Team USA.
A beneficial state of mind for the locker room, or for a particular player? Behind this remark, we can see an allusion to the setbacks of superstar Ja Morant, and “JJJ”, certainly reassured by the arrival of Smart, is confident for this start to the season without his star leader. “We will manage” he assures. “Obviously, we know that not having Ja requires filling a huge hole, but you know, it’s not like he’s not going to be with us.”
