NBA Draft Rumors: Marcus Smart traded from Celtics to Grizzlies
In a late-night shocker, the original trade which sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics was voided at the last minute. Porzingis is coming off his best — and perhaps more importantly — healthiest season in quite some time. He averaged over 23 points per game with the Washington Wizards, and will add a nice scoring punch to an already-talented Celtics team.
Below is the full trade, as we now know it:
The trade grades here are more complicated, but the Celtics were able to gain more first-round picks for Marcus Smart than the Wizards for both Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis combined. If that's not the sign of a veteran front office, I don't know what is.
Smart will fit right in with the Grizzlies, who already feature a former defensive player of the year in Jaren Jackson Jr. Smart is a better version of Dillon Brooks, who could merely annoy opponents, but not back it up. Smart is a legitimate ball-stopper defensively
As for the Wizards, it's unclear what this accomplishes beyond clearing salary. Jones is a nice piece, and Gallinari can score. Muscala and the No. 35 pick should serve as depth pieces. If the goal for Washington is to bottom out, they are doing a great job at it.
Trade grade: Boston wins
NBA Draft Rumors: 3 teams interested in Tobias Harris
Philadelphia 76ers small forward Tobias Harris is entering the final season of the five-year extension he signed back in 2019. This makes him an attractive trade asset, especially for teams in the lottery willing to trade back. Harris can still score at a relatively high clip, so there's no real pressure to deal his expiring contract. Daryl Morey and Co. want to win next season, with or without James Harden, and not waste another year of Joel Embiid's prime.
Per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, three teams stands out for Harris, though the 76ers have high expectations:
"The Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers have made inquiries about Harris' availability, according to a source. Looking to add a veteran player, the Pacers are showing the most interest in the 10-year veteran. However, another source said the Sixers will only make a deal that would be hard to pass up. As a result, teams around the league believe the Sixers are overvaluing Harris and asking for "outrageous packages in return," sources say."
The 76ers have a complicated offseason ahead, and trading Harris would arguably make it harder. Harris fits new head coach Nick Nurse's system well, and provides some punch as a third or fourth option.
Philly's largest looming question is what to do with Harden. The Sixers aren't willing to hinder their long-term future by giving Harden a large contract that will pay him into his late-30's. The Houston Rockets are rumored to have interest in a Harden reunion, as well.
NBA Draft Rumors: Will the Blazers get lucky with Scoot Henderson?
Scoot Henderson, the rumored No. 2 selection in the NBA Draft, has been working out with Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard all offseason, per Marcus Spears. The duo would love to play together, though that's not guarantee since the Charlotte Hornets pick second, and could take the G-League Ignite star off the board prior to the Blazers selection.
"Hearing Lillard and Scoot Henderson have been communicating regularly since the G League Ignite star's workout in Portland, sources said. Dame attended draft workouts and has been working out regularly at the Blazers' facility. Henderson is a candidate for the third pick," Spears reported on Wednesday.
The Blazers only hope is that Charlotte prefers Brandon Miller out of Alabama to Henderson. There's been a longstanding debate in NBA circles as to which is the better pro prospect.
"These teams are building around these multiple, dynamic pick-and-roll players, and when you get deep in the playoffs, the ability to get to the basket and draw fouls [is significant]," one high-ranking Western Conference executive told CBS Sports. "Miller doesn't have as much personal versatility, the combination of Scoot's scoring and playmaking, that's what teams are looking for. Brandon is exciting, don't get me wrong, but this is more of an appreciation for Scoot."
If said executive is correct, then the Blazers only hope at acquiring Henderson is to trade up. The far more likely solution is for Portland to trade back and try and acquire another veteran scorer alongside Lillard in exchange for their top-3 pick.
"Take Scoot," another GM said, per CBS. "Makeup, competitiveness, I'm betting on the human being. He's what an elite point guard looks like in our league. I just love him more. I think he's going to be really good. … With Miller, off-the-court stuff aside, when you look at the back at some of the games he had, something's missing. Not very vocal, missing something. I don't think he's an elite-elite athlete like some of these wings."
For the Blazers, taking Scoot is easier said than done given their draft position.