Earlier this year, the Washington Wizards acquired guard Marcus Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the trade deadline. Since the trade, the former Defensive Player of the Year has appeared in 15 games for Washington. Smart has one year remaining on his contract and does not fit Washington’s timeline. Because of this, many have speculated that he could be on the move again this summer. Recently, Smart made his feelings known about a potential offseason trade.
“Control what I can control,” Smart said. “That’s been my motto, and that’s kind of how it’s going to stand. These last couple years, you’ve seen things that you probably didn’t expect to see, you experienced things that you probably didn’t expect to experience, and it kind of brings things to the surface for you. You’ve just got to control what you can control.”
Additionally, Smart made it clear that he simply wants to get back onto the court and contribute to winning basketball.
“I’m one of probably the biggest competitors in this league,” Smart said. “As long as I’m able to be out there, I want to be out there and I’m going to be out there. Where, when, how – that’s not in my control. All I can do is control my preparation and be prepared for whatever is thrown at me. So obviously I would like to get back to that play of racking up those minutes and really getting out there with those guys, but like I said, control what I can control.”
Washington Wizards Guard Sends Message About Potential Trade
Marcus Smart’s Season So Far
At the beginning of the season, Smart was a member of the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies acquired Smart from the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team trade in 2023. However, Smart’s career in Memphis was uneventful. This season alone, he only appeared in 19 games for the team and started just six games. During that stretch, he recorded 8.7 points, 3.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
Furthermore, his time in Washington has not been much better. The 31-year-old has only started one game for the Wizards and is averaging a career-low 18.7 minutes with the team.
When he is on the court, Smart is still a tenacious defender. Though he is not the same player he was in 2022, he still provides a lot of value. For a team like Washington, trading him could make sense. He is not likely to be a long-term fit there, and the Wizards are unlikely to be a title contender any time soon. Smart is a veteran guard who has NBA Finals experience. Throughout the offseason, he will be a player to keep an eye on.
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