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June 22 (UPI) — In a significant three-team NBA trade, the Boston Celtics will acquire center Kristaps Porzingis, the Memphis Grizzlies will receive guard Marcus Smart, and the Washington Wizards will obtain guard Tyus Jones.
Sources from ESPN, The Athletic, and the Boston Globe reported the details of the trade agreement on Wednesday night.
According to the reports, the Grizzlies will send the No. 25 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and the Golden State Warriors’ Top-4 protected first-round pick in 2024 to the Celtics. In return, the Celtics will send the No. 35 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, forward Danilo Gallinari, and center Mike Muscala to the Wizards.
Marcus Smart, aged 29, was the No. 6 overall pick for the Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft. As a three-time All-Defensive Team selection and the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year, he displayed impressive averages of 11.2 points, 6.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in 61 starts last season.
Throughout his career, Smart has maintained an average of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game over 581 games. He signed a 4-year, $76.49 million contract extension with the Celtics in 2021.
Kristaps Porzingis, aged 27, showcased his skills with an impressive average of 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in 65 starts last season for the Wizards. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and previously played for the New York Knicks before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2019.
Over his first eight seasons, Porzingis maintained an average of 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. As part of the trade agreement, he has exercised his $36 million player option for the 2023-24 season.
Tyus Jones, aged 27, recorded a career-high average of 10.3 points, 5.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game in 80 appearances last season for the Grizzlies. He was the No. 24 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and previously played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jones has averaged 6.8 points, 3.9 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game over 535 appearances. He signed a 2-year, $29 million deal with the Grizzlies last off-season.
The 2023 NBA Draft will be broadcast at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday, airing on ABC and ESPN.
