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Marcus Smart was back in the Boston area on Sunday and spoke to some local media about what he called a “shocking” trade to the Memphis Grizzlies while attending The 14 League at Dana Barros Basketball Club in Stoughton.
While Smart said it will always be all love between him and the Celtics, he does wish things had gone a little differently at the end. Smart says he believed he was safe based on a conversation he had with the team just a week earlier, and would have appreciated more of a heads-up that a trade was coming.
“It was definitely shocking to find out that way, especially because the week before, I was already told we were good, there were no trade talks with me and we were good,” Smart said, via CLNS Media. “I understand the business side of it, I’ve always been like that. I’m the first one to tell anyone, you can’t mix personal with business. It just doesn’t mix. I understand it’s a business.
“For me, it’s just the courtesy. They probably already knew they were thinking about trading me. They had this trade in their back pocket just in case something else didn’t happen. And for me, it’s just the simple fact, hey, we’re thinking about trading you, most likely we’ll trade you, just letting you know, thank you.”
Smart also made a point to address rumors that there was a rift between him and Jaylen Brown, with some recently pointing to the fact that Brown didn’t post a farewell to Smart on social media like Jayson Tatum did. Smart shot down those rumors and said he heard from Brown privately.
“Jayson and Jaylen are my brothers for life,” Smart said. “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 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, 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 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 we have beef.”
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