Marcus Smart was once the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics. Now Smart has joined their archrivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Defensive Player of the Year will become the 42nd player to don both uniforms.
He knows that in doing so, he has broken the hearts of Celtics fans. At his introductory press conference in Los Angeles, Smart shared the reaction he is expecting when they see him in a Lakers uniform.
"I'm expecting a lot of boos," said Smart. "I'm expecting a lot of hate, and it's okay, I understand it."
The 11-year veteran signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the purple and gold. That includes a player option that will allow him to reach free agency next summer.
After the Washington Wizards bought him out, Smart received significant interest from the Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns, per ESPN's Shams Charania. However, Luka Doncic's recruiting efforts helped persuade the 31-year-old guard to choose Tinseltown.
The Flower Mound, Texas, native played in just 19 games with the Memphis Grizzlies last season. Then they sent him to the nation's capital. In 15 appearances with the Wizards, Smart averaged 9.3 points and knocked down 39.2 percent of the 3.4 shots he launched from behind the arc. He also dished out 2.5 assists and swiped 1.1 steals per contest in his 18.7 minutes of floor time.
What was Marcus Smart supposed to do?
This author isn't about to tell someone how they should feel or express their fandom. However, was Smart supposed to choose another suitor because Celtics fans hate the Lakers? That seems like an unfair and unrealistic ask.
Based on reporting, this was his best option by far. He wasn't about to pass on it, nor should he. The six-foot-three guard knows he hurt Celtics fans. That likely will bring a chorus of boos when he returns to TD Garden.
However, that wasn't going to stop him from making this decision. Fans in Boston don't have to applaud that he signed with their favorite team's chief rival. Still, after nine years in which he literally poured his blood, sweat, and tears onto the TD Garden parquet, it would be even-keeled and rational not to boo him. Fan is short for fanatic for a reason, though.
Maybe the cheers for Smart are on pause until he's wearing a different uniform. Perhaps this is a one-season fling in LA. Where there's more clarity is that the former Celtics floor general flanking Doncic and LeBron James in hopes of bringing the Lakers a championship is an added spice to a rival that has become mild.