The Boston Celtics made a major roster move by trading their longest-tenured player, veteran point guard Marcus Smart, for Washington Wizards star big man Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal. Smart had been with the team for nine seasons, consistently helping them reach the playoffs and serving as the emotional fulcrum of the ball club. This move represents a gamble for the Celtics and has had no small eruption of criticism from fans of the team and analysts both — but Hall of Fame big man Charles Barkley is not among them.
Speaking in a recent appearance on the eponymous “Bill Simmons” podcast (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Bobby Krivitsky), the Round Mound of Rebound related that he is actually a fan of the move for Boston.
Buy Celtics Tickets“I think it’s worth the gamble,” he suggested. “He doesn’t have to be your best player. He doesn’t have to be your second-best player.”
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The Porzingis deal is not the only change in the Celtics’ offseason, with key the hires of Sam Cassell and Charles Lee to the team’s coaching staff, both regarded as top assistant coaches in the NBA. Barkley suggests these additions, along with other Boston’s moves, boost the team’s title odds.
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