Remains to be seen if former Boston Celtics fan favorite is on trade block
Bucks Zone's Jonas Paneiro would love the addition of Marcus Smart to the Bucks, but the Milwaukee beat writer relayed the uncertainty about the former Boston Celtics fan favorite even being on the trade block just yet; this after Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz floated the Smart-Bucks idea.
"The Bucks’ fall from grace in numerous defensive categories has been steep," Swartz prefaced before saying, "Last season, the Bucks ranked 4th in defensive rating but have since dropped to the bottom 10 of the NBA. Plugging the rugged Smart into the starting lineup would go a long way toward elevating the Bucks’ defensive rating and chances of snagging another NBA title.
"It remains to be seen if such a scenario is even available, given how Memphis has yet to see what its complete roster would look like with all the injuries its players have suffered this season."
Swartz was enamored with the idea of Milwaukee countering Boston's addition of Jrue Holiday with a chaos-inducing Smart acquisition.
"After the Boston Celtics were able to eventually land Jrue Holiday, the Bucks counter here with Marcus Smart, creating absolute chaos at the top of the Eastern Conference," Swartz wrote.
Marcus Smart on the Bucks is a nightmare scenario for the Boston Celtics
There's not a more sickness-inducing scenario possible for Celtics fans than Brad Stevens trading Smart away only to see him join one of Boston's primary east roadblocks and win his championship elsewhere before Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown ever won one in Boston.
Milwaukee doesn't have much to offer the Memphis Grizzlies, who are already stocked in the frontcourt and don't need Bobby Portis on their cap sheet unless there were plans to trade other big men in the rotation. But a team like the Los Angeles Lakers, who can offer a combination of Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, Max Christie, and every tradeable second-round pick possible, looms as more of a threat to land Smart.
Smart landing in Los Angeles alongside LeBron James may just be the most nightmarish situation a Celtics fan can ever imagine. So let's hope he sticks with Memphis for a while before making his way home eventually.