Just when you think the Washington Wizards are done, general manager Will Dawkins continues to make moves.
This time, the Wizards received a former Defensive Player of the Year in Marcus Smart and a first-round pick in a multi-team deal. The biggest key to this deal for Washington is the fact that they are able to cash in on yet another salary dump by snagging more draft capital.
The Wizards will send Marvin Bagley III and Johnny Davis to the Grizzlies as part of the trade.
In return, Washington lands a tough-nosed defender who is more than capable of serving as a key veteran for the Wizards if they do choose to keep him.
What to know about Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart was selected with the No. 6 overall pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2014 NBA Draft. The Oklahoma State product spent several years in Beantown where he served as the Celtics heart and soul for the longest time.
General manager Brad Stevens made the tough decision to move the gritty guard two offseasons ago after the Celtics collapsed in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. Boston made the move sending Smart to Memphis in a three-team deal that landed Kristaps Porzingis in Boston, a deal that the Wizards were involved in.
The guard landed with the Grizzlies in what seemed to be a move that could help Memphis make a run in the Western Conference, but after injury bugs slowly decimated the Grizzlies last year, the team fell apart and missed the postseason as a whole.
This year, Memphis seemed like a team that could make some noise as they were finally healthy. The key word there is "were". Smart is apart of the multiple players in Memphis that has dealt with injuries this season which has led to a lackluster season for the 31-year-old.
Smart is averaging 8.7 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds, while shooting 35.8% from field goal range and 32.2% from beyond the arc on the season. However, while his offensive numbers may not be flashy, the guard's bread and butter comes on the defensive side of the ball.
As a result, the Wizards would be wise to hold onto Smart this season and look for options to move the talented guard in the offseason as teams will likely be willing to trade picks and/or young players in exchange for a healthy player who has proved that he can contribute to winning at the highest level.
As for Wizards roster following the deadline, Washington has multiple new faces set to suit up in D.C. in the coming days.