The Boston Celtics had an unexpectedly busy 2023 off-season, trading away 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in a three-team trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis to the TD Garden. However, NBA writer Mark Medina is not entirely convinced that the move improves the 17x NBA champions’ title aspirations for next season.

The Boston Celtics pulled off one of the biggest trade shocks prior to the 2023 NBA Draft, agreeing to send Marcus Smart (among many others) in a deal that landed them Kristaps Porzingis.t’s understandable why the Beantown team wanted to make big changes on the roster, but there’s reason to believe Smart’s departure could be costly for the franchise.For those who missed it, the Celtics traded Smart, Mike Muscala, Danilo Gallinari, and the No. 35 pick in the three-team deal with the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies for Porzingis.The Grizzlies got Smart in the process, while also sending the No. 25 pick in the draft and a top-four protected pick in 2024 to the Celtics. They also parted ways with Tyus Jones, who was sent to the Wizards in the deal.As for Washington, they also received Gallinari and Muscala along with Boston’s 35th pick to complete the deal.The Celtics didn’t have Smart as part of the deal at first, but when their initial three-team trade with the Los Angeles Clippers fell apart due to injury concerns about Malcolm Brogdon’s injury, they appeared to be left with no other choice but to throw in Smart instead.Porzingis definitely gives the Celtics a legitimate Big 3. The Latvian star is coming off one of his healthiest and most productive seasons in 2023—playing in 65 games and averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.8 blocks—so there are high hopes he can elevate the C’s with his presence.Nonetheless, it’s still hard to make sense why the Celtics traded Smart. For a team that has been a consistent playoff team and title contender, moving a key piece of what has made them so successful just seems a bad move.With that said, here are three reasons why the Smart trade will be disastrous for the Celtics.

Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons committed a 'bush league move' when he took a shot at his old team as the Philadelphia 76ers lost in the playoffs to the Boston Celtics, Mark Medina has told GiveMeSport. Simmons was drafted first overall in 2016 by the 76ers and many expected him to help turn the franchise around. However, Simmons never lived up to the hype as he dealt with plenty of injuries and had a tough time getting on the court.After some troubling years in Philadelphia, and Simmons basically holding out, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. The departure was not a nice one and after the 76ers lost to the Celtics, Simmons took to Instagram to make fun of his old team.

The WWE 24/7 Championship changed hands twice before Monday Night Raw got underway this week, with NBA star Enes Kanter winning and losing the title.Kanter appeared in a segment alongside 24/7 Champion R-Truth during the taping of Main Event prior to Raw taking place.The former New York Knicks star received a mixed response after making his entrance at Madison Square Garden wearing a jacket and trousers in a similar colour blue of the Knicks.Truth followed shortly after and urged all the fans to show their appreciation for the now Boston Celtics star and remember the good times Kanter produced inside the arena.However, before Truth could finish speaking, Kanter tripped him up in the middle of the ring and pinned him to win the 24/7 title.

The Milwaukee Bucks will face either the Philadelphia 76ers or Toronto Raptors for a place in the NBA Finals.Milwaukee beat the Boston Celtics 116-91 in game five of the semi-finals to secure a 4-1 series win and ensure their first conference finals appearance since 2001.Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 20 for the Bucks in the win and snared eight rebounds and eight assists, with Khris Middleton adding 19 points.

James Harden scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Houston Rockets survived a late scare to beat the Golden State Warriors 112-108 and level their play-off series.Eric Gordon contributed 20 points and PJ Tucker added a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in Houston’s win, which saw the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series tied at 2-2.The Warriors had chances to level late on but Kevin Durant (34 points) and Steph Curry (30 points) both missed three-point attempts with less than five seconds left as the Rockets held on for victory.The evenly-matched series – which has seen defending NBA champions the Warriors record 448 points so far and the Rockets 447 – continues in California on Wednesday.In the Eastern Conference semi-final, the Milwaukee Bucks have opened up a 3-1 lead over the Boston Celtics after a 113-101 victory at the TD Garden.

Kevin Durant outplayed James Harden as the Golden State Warriors edged the Houston Rockets 104-100 in their highly-anticipated Western Conference semi-finals opener.The reigning champions are meeting Houston in the play-offs for the fourth time in five years and began this year’s series with a back-and-forth game which went down to the wire.Durant led the way with 35 points, while Stephen Curry added 18 and sealed the victory with a three-pointer with 24 seconds left on the clock.

The Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 110-106 to seal a series sweep and become the first team to advance to the second round of the NBA play-offs.Gordon Hayward racked up 20 points, three rebounds and two assists as his side came from behind at half-time to wrap up their first 4-0 series win in eight years.Marcus Morris and Jayson Tatum also dominated for the visitors, both finishing with 18 points.The Celtics will go on to face either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Detroit Pistons, with the Bucks leading their series 3-0.The Golden State Warriors, meanwhile, moved within one win of clinching their first-round play-off series with a 113-105 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.Kevin Durant poured in 33 points and Klay Thompson finished not far behind on 32 points to earn the Warriors a 3-1 series lead.

The Charlotte Hornets condemned the Detroit Pistons to their fourth straight loss and boosted their own play-off hopes with a 104-91 victory.Kemba Walker hit 31 points and had eight rebounds as Charlotte recorded a third straight win and moved one game behind the Pistons in the battle to claim the final play-off spot in the Eastern Conference.Walker scored 20 in the first half, while Frank Kaminsky scored 24 and Jeremy Lamb added 17 in the victory.

The Charlotte Hornets kept their NBA play-off hopes alive with a dramatic 113-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors.Jeremy Lamb – who less than a fortnight ago hit a buzzer-beater from his own half to secure victory against Toronto – nailed a game-winning three-pointer with under four seconds left on Friday night.There was still time for Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard to see a potential leveller get stuck between the rim and the backboard with less than a second left as Charlotte held on.

James Harden amassed 31 points as the Houston Rockets downed the Los Angeles Clippers 135-103 at the Staples Center.The reigning MVP made his case for this year’s accolade as another 30-plus game powered his side to their fourth-straight victory.Team-mate Chris Paul was not far behind, finishing with 29 points, and had fans on their feet with a buzzer-beating three-pointer at end of the third quarter.Houston sit third in the Western Conference, with the Clippers in sixth, potentially setting up a first-round play-off game between the pair.The Charlotte Hornets, meanwhile, kept their faint play-off hopes alive with a 115-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.Kemba Walker proved the Hornets – in 10th place in the Eastern Conference – have not given up on their post-season chances, pouring in 21 points in the fourth quarter and finishing with 32 for the night.

A free throw from Karl-Anthony Towns with half a second remaining clinched a 131-130 overtime victory for the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Golden State Warriors.Despite trailing by 14 points at half-time, the Wolves fought back and outscored the Warriors 32-18 in the third quarter.As the game headed into overtime, back-to-back three-pointers from Anthony Tolliver and Jerryd Bayless helped the Wolves take an early advantage, until Steph Curry tied the scores from the corner.Towns was then fouled by Kevin Durant on the inbounds pass, resulting in the game-winning free throw.

Jeremy Lamb’s incredible buzzer-beater from almost 50 yards secured the Charlotte Hornets a dramatic victory against the Toronto Raptors.Lamb’s attempt from half-court found the basket for a 115-114 victory for the play-off chasing Hornets, who have won three in a row.Kawhi Leonard, who had 28 points, looked to have sealed victory as he put the Raptors ahead with 44 seconds left to play, but Lamb’s winner stunned the Scotiabank Arena.