05-16-2025, 12:00 PM
The price on Ball at the deadline was reported to be expiring and multiple seconds but CHI extended his contract despite reported interest from playoff teams. It sounds like MEM was close with Smart + No 1 but either CHI backed out or MEM preferred the WAS deal. Given the team friendly extension, I'd expect CHI plans to retain Ball or if they move him, the price is likely higher. Probably a servicable player on good deal plus a first. Do you do Caleb Martin + a first?
Also came across this tidbit on Smart from NYT: “The Marcus Smart trade killed them,” as one rival exec put it, costing them draft assets and a $20-million salary slot for a whole lot of not much. On a roster that couldn’t afford a miss once Jackson, Bane and Morant graduated to expensive veteran deals, Smart was nearly dead money. He was neither healthy nor happy in Memphis, and his level of play dropped off even when he was active; the Grizzlies ended up giving Washington another first just to move off the last year of his deal.
Smart certainly won't be happy in Washington but I think he can still play. Both Ball and Smart are injury risks but both can defend and conceivably start while Kyrie is out --and play next to him when he returns. The Kyrie+Smart dynamic will certainly be a factor (I have no idea if they have beef) as will Smart's larger contract. I don't think you'd have to attach a one to get Smart but Dallas would likely have to send multiple players.
Also came across this tidbit on Smart from NYT: “The Marcus Smart trade killed them,” as one rival exec put it, costing them draft assets and a $20-million salary slot for a whole lot of not much. On a roster that couldn’t afford a miss once Jackson, Bane and Morant graduated to expensive veteran deals, Smart was nearly dead money. He was neither healthy nor happy in Memphis, and his level of play dropped off even when he was active; the Grizzlies ended up giving Washington another first just to move off the last year of his deal.
Smart certainly won't be happy in Washington but I think he can still play. Both Ball and Smart are injury risks but both can defend and conceivably start while Kyrie is out --and play next to him when he returns. The Kyrie+Smart dynamic will certainly be a factor (I have no idea if they have beef) as will Smart's larger contract. I don't think you'd have to attach a one to get Smart but Dallas would likely have to send multiple players.