Marcus Smart was traded by the Boston Celtics to the Memphis Grizzlies, where Smart will play alongside 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., marking the first time in NBA history that the last two DPOYs have played together on the same team.
Jackson Jr. won Defensive Player of the Year in the 2022-23 season after leading the NBA in blocks per game (3.0), defensive rating (105.3), and block percentage (9.6%). The Grizzlies also finished second in blocks (189) behind Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (193).
At a handful of NBA betting sites, the Grizzlies hold the sixth shortest odds of winning a championship next season in 2024. Sportsbooks show better odds with the Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.
The Grizzlies are sending their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to the Celtics, sources tell ESPN. The Grizzlies send the 25th pick Thursday night, 2024 via Golden State for Smart.
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023
Marcus Smart won Defensive Player of the Year honors for the 2021-22 season after finishing sixth in steals (119), seventh in steals per game (1.7), 12th in defensive win shares (3.7), and eighth in stealing percentage (2.6%) . . In August 2021, Smart signed a four-year, $76.49 million contract extension with Boston.
The Oklahoma State product finished his 9-year stint with the Celtics with the fourth-most steals (914) in franchise history, since the law was made official in 1973-74. Only Paul Pierce (1,583), Larry Bird (1,556), and Rajon Rondo (990) have scored more.
The last two NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winners, Marcus Smart and Jaren Jackson Jr., will play together on the same team for the first time in NBA history.
In a three-team deal on Wednesday, the Celtics finalized a deal to acquire Christaps Porcingis from the Washington Wizards after he optioned the 7-foot-3 center on his $36 million contract for the 2023-24 season. Boston then sent its 35th pick in the 2023 NBA draft to Washington.
Wizards acquired Daniel Gallinari And Mike Muscala is also from Boston. Similarly, the Grizzlies have sent their 2023 and 2024 first-round draft picks to the Celtics. Memphis fielded No. 25 Thursday night and will pick it up in 2024 over the Golden State Warriors for Smart.
In 61 starts for the 2022-23 season, Marcus Smart averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 32.1 minutes per game. The 6-foot-3 guard also shot 41.5% from the field and 33.6% out of the arc.
The last two Defensive Players of the Year to play for the Memphis Grizzlies.
It is the first time in NBA history that the last two players to win a DPOY award have been on the same team.
every heart. perseverance. grinding. Ⓜ️🔒# Big Memphis pic.twitter.com/URGGPZ7LFm
– Grizz Lead (Grizz_Lead) June 22, 2023
Additionally, in 63 starts this past season, Jackson Jr. posted career highs of 18.6 points, 6.8 boards and 3.0 blocks per game. Besides recording 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 28.4 minutes per game, the quarterback shot 50.6% from the floor and 35.5 from 3-point range.
Marcus Smart is owed $18,583,713 in 2023-24 and $19,960,284 in 2024-25. His 15% trading bonus was activated on Wednesday’s three-team trade. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson Jr. signed a four-year, $104.72 million rookie-wide contract extension with Memphis in October 2021.
Jackson Jr. still has three more NBA seasons left in his deal. The two-time All-Defensive member is expected to make $27,102,202 with the Grizzlies in 2023-24 and $25,257,798 in 2024-25. Memphis’ defense should improve next season now that the Western Conference rival has its last DPOYs.