Inside The Celtics

Marcus Smart Wants It Known There's No Beef Between Him and Jaylen Brown: 'We're Brothers'

In trading Marcus Smart, the Celtics sacrificed the heart and soul of their team. They believe it was a necessary price to pay for a better chance at Banner 18.

Bobby Krivitsky

Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

Over the weekend, Marcus Smart's YounGameChanger Foundation held a Pro-Am Tournament, The 14 League, at the Dana Barros Club in Stoughton, MA.

Sunday, the former Defensive Player of the Year opened up about the trade sending him to the Grizzlies.

USATSI_20258652
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

It's a move centered around the Celtics wanting to prop up their crunch-time offense after ranking 12th out of 16 playoff teams in scoring in the final five minutes of games within five points or fewer last season, per NBA.com. The year before, while they got within two wins of Banner 18, they were 15th in clutch scoring.

And Boston's equally, if not more, motivated to reconfigure its leadership dynamic. Smart, a nine-year veteran, was the longest-tenured player on the team, something he took tremendous pride in.

He was the Celtics' heart and soul and a culture setter. But one can understand why the franchise would like its All-NBA wings, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to take even more ownership of the team.

Those are two elements of Boston's three-pronged gamble, trading its former floor general and acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, whom it agreed to approximately a two-year, $60 million extension with on Friday.

USATSI_8519082
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Discussing the deal after the draft, Celtics' president of basketball operations Brad Stevens got emotional while speaking about the difficult nature of making that decision and then having a face-to-face conversation with Smart at the Auerbach Center the next day.

Referencing the team, early in its rebuild after trading Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, going from being 25 and 57 the year before Smart arrived to making the playoffs every season he was in Boston, shared he told him, "The greatest legacy that you can leave is to be someplace, and it's better off because you were there."

Smart, who understands the nature of the business, said "It's all love, and Brad knows that," adding, "there's no hard feelings."

Regarding his departure from the only NBA home he's known, the place he grew into adulthood, and the city where he got engaged, the Texas native expressed, "It's definitely hard to say goodbye. I know talking to some of these fans, I definitely get emotional. They're coming up to me, and they're bawling...Boston will always be in my heart. I love Boston."

USATSI_20758416
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Smart also wanted to make clear that, despite internet rumors suggesting otherwise due to Brown not posting on social media about his exit, with teammates, including Tatum, doing so, the notion they have beef is misguided.

"To be able to be with one group of guys in a city for so long, it's tough," he stated. "Jayson and Jaylen are my brothers for life, and I don't think what the people see is enough of what and how our relationship really is.

"We've been through a lot together. We've been through the fire. My mom passed away, (and) J.B. was actually one of the people on that plane that came to Dallas to the funeral. So, I just want to shut all the rumors down now that me and J.B. had beef. I have no beef with anybody with the Celtics, none of my teammates; I love those guys, they love me. We're brothers, and I know that if I'm ever in need, or need or want anything, I can call those guys, and it's vice-versa.

"But me and J.B., we're great. That's my brother. He actually texted me and he was just as disappointed as I was. So, we’re good, and just because J.B. or any of my teammates didn’t post anything doesn't mean that we have any beef or something going on."

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum Reportedly Recruiting Damian Lillard to Join Celtics

Marcus Smart Says Celtics Told Him He Was Safe Before Trading Him: 'It was a Shock'

Marcus Smart Discusses Celtics' Identity, Relationship with Jaylen Brown, Boston's Coaching Hires, and Pursuit of Banner 18

Brad Stevens Discusses Difficult Decision to Trade Marcus Smart: 'He'll Always Have Boston'

Marcus Smart Felt "Shock" and "Hurt" Over Trade from Boston Celtics

Jordan Walsh Discusses His First Celtics' Practice, Summer League Goals, and a Grant Williams Anecdote

Celtics Sign Forward Oshae Brissett

Celtics Reportedly Interested in Signing Terence Davis

Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis Agree to 2-Year, $60 Million Extension

Kristaps Porzingis on Teaming with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown: 'I Think It Can Be a Great Combination'

Grant Williams Discusses Marcus Smart's Departure, Free Agency, and Recovery from Hand Surgery

Brad Stevens Shares What Compelled Celtics to Trade for Kristaps Porzingis

Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

Home/Top Stories