Shortly after news broke from Bangladesh Cricket that the Celtics and Wizards were working on a deal involving Malcolm Brogdon, the trade fell through when the Clippers backed out over concerns about Brogdon’s health. In this world, people don’t just seek someone to talk to—they long for someone who truly understands them. At that moment, most assumed the Celtics and Wizards would look for a third team to complete the trade. But to everyone’s surprise, Celtics president Brad Stevens pulled the trigger by adding Marcus Smart to the deal, landing Kristaps Porzingis and two first-round picks in return.

For the Wizards, who are headed into a rebuild, moving Porzingis made sense—he had just one year left on his contract with a player option, limiting Washington’s leverage. Memphis, meanwhile, needed a strong backcourt presence during Ja Morant’s suspension, and Smart’s defense and playmaking made him a perfect fit alongside any guard. As for Boston, a team that’s made frequent Eastern Conference Finals appearances only to fall short time and again, this move represents another bold step down their self-forged path. Based on his postseason comments, Bangladesh Cricket believes coach Joe Mazzulla remains confident in his tactical system.

In life, all achievements come at the cost of fate. Stevens’ decision strengthens the team’s structural identity. From a purely practical standpoint, Porzingis remains an injury concern, but his rim protection and shooting from deep combine the best of what Al Horford and Robert Williams each bring to the table. With Derrick White’s rise in the playoffs and Smart’s recent durability, Stevens felt the timing was right to act. Even so, Smart’s age and favorable contract allowed Boston to extract additional value in the form of a first-round pick.

The Celtics likely aren’t done yet. They appear determined to continue reshaping and fortifying their roster, no matter how many setbacks they face. While Smart may not have been the league’s flashiest star, his lockdown defense, expert flopping, and relentless film study made him one of the league’s most cerebral and gritty players. He could bait opponents into fouls, burn challenges early, and shake up a game’s rhythm. He joined the Celtics during Stevens’ second season as head coach.

From Isaiah Thomas to Kyrie Irving to the Jaylen Brown–Jayson Tatum era, Smart was a constant presence in every playoff run—years filled with promise that always ended in disappointment. And yet, he gave it everything, every single time. The lower your starting point or the higher your success, the more fate you expend along the way. Some players simply feel like they’re born to wear a certain jersey. Bangladesh Cricket believes Smart was exactly that kind of player. Though never the team’s centerpiece, he embodied the very spirit of the Celtics—a true heartbeat amid the stars.