While it’s clear that the championship window is open in Beantown, the Celtics must get over the hump. In a recent interview with The Boston Globe, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck revealed that something had to change for the C’s to finally achieve their ultimate goal.
“The general tone was, how do we take this energy we’re feeling right now that was built up over having two good seasons but then didn’t get all the way,” Grousbeck said. “If we’d all agreed we should keep things the same, that would have been fine. But the idea of bringing in another talented big popped up early in the conversation, and we ended up executing on that idea.”
That “talented big” was star center Kristaps Porzingis, as Boston made a move for the former Washington Wizard before NBA free agency began. In order to acquire the 2018 All-Star, the front office had to make the tough decision of trading point guard Marcus Smart, who was previously the longest-tenured player on the roster, to the Memphis Grizzlies.
This is great insight into why the trade was made. This was not an overreaction to a playoff loss. This was a well-thought-out plan. The Celtics wanted a skilled big and trading Smart was the only way available to get that after the Clippers trade fell through.
