NBA: Grading every team’s 2023 offseason through the draft, free agency

Boston Celtics

Biggest offseason moves: Supermax extension for Jaylen Brown, traded Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis, S&T Grant Williams to Dallas Mavericks 

In a vacuum, it’s hard to look at the moves made by the Boston Celtics and not consider it a successful offseason. They improved by adding another top-tier talent in Kristaps Porzingis and locked up one of their key core players for the foreseeable future. The big question that I would have about the moves they made this offseason is how much they end up missing Marcus Smart in the long run.

Known as somewhat of the heart and soul of the team, I don’t think “replacing” Smart is going to be that simple. Sure, Kristaps is a great talent and he’s going to make life a whole lot easier for Tatum and Brown on the offensive end of the floor, but he’s not Smart. He doesn’t bring the toughness, defensive intensity, or playoff experience if we’re being honest. And that concerns me for the Celtics heading into the season.

But I suppose that’s a problem that they’ll worry about later. That said, the Celtics probably needed to make some changes to their roster this summer. But I just don’t think many expected the changes to include trading away Smart.

Grade: A-