Consecutive Defensive Player of the Year winners suiting up together on the same team hasn’t been seen during the NBA’s 77-year existence, but that’s about to change before 2023 ends after Memphis made a bold trade to bolster their backcourt. Jaren Jackson Jr spoke about how he’s motivated by their postseason play, and what better presence to join the fold than Marcus Smart?
We’re just going to put it together, JJJ reaffirms
- Reminiscing from the day the Smart trade news broke: “I texted him immediately like, ‘this is crazy, bro.’ To have another guy that just won DPOY on our team, that doesn’t happen ever but I know what he brings to Boston – been seeing it before I was in the league and it’s crazy.”
- After their second R1 playoff exit in three years: “There’s no more motivation I need than how we left last year, it’s a moment you’re going to remember and you have to make something good out of it. Otherwise, it don’t make sense and don’t matter – so we’re just going to put it together.”
- Memphis will again have to manage without franchise star guard Ja Morant for the first 25 games of this upcoming regular season through suspension for conduct detrimental to the league after repeated off-court transgressions, subsequently forefeiting an estimated $7.7m in salary
After finishing second in the Western Conference last season with a 51-31 record, the forthcoming postseason campaign was short and an anticlimactic end to a year packed with ups and downs for Memphis. Naturally, they’re expecting much better.
Otherwise they wouldn’t have made the eyecatching Marcus Smart move last month, one centred around fixing an issue that most of their championship-contending rivals boast in abundance while they still lack seasoning – not for lack of trying, mind.
Smart has played more playoff games in the last two seasons (42) than the Grizzlies have collectively as a franchise since 2014-15 (32).
They’ve had three head coaches since then, traded then-franchise guard Mike Conley and phased out big man Marc Gasol, two staples in their persistent push for more success, and gone younger after Jackson Jr was drafted no. 4 out of Michigan State.
Memphis’ offseason moves in chronological order
– drafted Tarik Biberovic, Marcus Sasser (Detroit) and Gregory Jackson II on June 22
– traded for Marcus Smart in a three-team deal, their outgoings included a 2024 first-round pick and Tyus Jones (Wizards) as Kristaps Porzingis went to Boston
– exercised $1.93m option for big man Xavier Tillman ahead of 2023-24 year
– signed 2011 MVP, beloved point guard Derrick Rose to a two-year, $6.5m contract
– agreed a five-year, $197.2m rookie max extension with sharpshooting guard Desmond Bane, potentially up to $205.9m and complete with 15% trade bonus
– traded Dillon Brooks to Houston as part of a five-team trade, where they got Rockets’ guard Josh Christopher and Vanja Marinkovic (Clippers) back in return
– acquired Isaiah Todd from Phoenix with five future draft picks swapped
Jackson has endured his fair share of injury woes since then, but despite valid criticisms over foul trouble tendencies more often than his teammates can truly afford, quickly asserted himself as one of the league’s premier defenders.
The 23-year-old deservedly earned his first All-Star nod in 2022-23, averaged career-highs in points (18.6), rebounds (6.8) and 2P% (58.5) while leading the league in blocks per game for a second straight season (3.0).
Although he looked a little subdued – already in playoff mode – when his family were celebrating the DPOY announcement at home with him, it wasn’t exactly a surprise.
But now, he’s got to build on that success and continue strengthening a reputation which will have players leaguewide targeting him in the paint, the same way they have Rudy Gobert and other recent award winners – Smart included.
The 29-year-old guard averaged 11.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 41.5 FG% alongside a career-high 6.3 assists in 61 regular season contests last term, though many critics suggest his defence has already peaked – while scoring explosions and shooting efficiency isn’t expected from a floor general like him.
Jackson and Team USA, a welcome partnership
Although the team features a pair of number one draft picks in Anthony Edwards and Paolo Banchero, Jackson Jr is a big name in a 12-man roster packed with youth.
He’ll head to Las Vegas for their four-day training camp this week, before Team USA host Puerto Rico for a warm-up game next Monday.
They’ll then travel to Europe as Malaga beckons, for games against Luka Doncic’s Slovenia and the defending champions Spain themselves before Abu Dhabi awaits where Greece and Germany will be their final pre-tournament opponents.
Team USA’s schedule, in full
Warm-up games
Puerto Rico – Aug. 7
Slovenia – Aug. 12
Spain – Aug. 13
Greece – Aug. 18
Germany – Aug. 20
FIBA World Cup, Group C
New Zealand – Aug. 26
Greece – Aug. 28
Jordan – Aug. 30
Picture source: Getty Images, quote sources hyperlinked
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