How This Trade Impacts Boston Celtics
This is an intriguing deal for the Boston Celtics. Marcus Smart is the heart and soul of the team, but it looks more and more clear with each passing day that they need a change.
Because Smart signed an extension in the offseason, he cannot be traded for a few more weeks, but that is okay since Jerami Grant is still recovering from his injury.
Removing Smart from the starting five in favor of Grant could benefit the Celtics as it would help balance out their roster. Grant would help shore up the power forward position, providing Boston with the kind of versatile player at the four they have been looking for.
Grant’s presence will enable the Celtics to push Jaylen Brown down to shooting guard and Jayson Tatum to the small forward, which are their more natural positions. They would all have to make a concerted effort to replace the playmaking lost by Smart’s departure, but Grant would provide that consistent scoring option to take pressure off of Brown and Tatum.
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To land a player of Grant’s caliber without parting with a draft pick is a steal for Boston. Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford are fringe rotation players when the team is healthy, so they are not losing out on much there either.
If this deal was presented to Brad Stevens, it is hard to imagine him declining it. The only real issue is that the frontcourt would be a little crowded, but Grant could always slide down to the 3-spot with the second unit so players such as Grant Williams and Al Horford receive enough playing time.
