The Houston Rockets own the No. 3 pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft (via the Brooklyn Nets). That pick has been a rumor magnet, with numerous speculations about what exactly the Rockets would do with that pick coming from what feels like every direction.
One such rumor that has come up is the Memphis Grizzlies having an interest in trading their No. 9 pick in the first round and former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart for the Rockets’ No. 3 spot.
Will the Houston Rockets trade the No. 3 pick for Marcus Smart and No. 9 pick?
For the Grizzlies, the main intention is to gain higher odds of selecting UConn Huskies star and two-time NCAA champion big man Donovan Clingan, per NBA insider Marc Stein (h/t NBA Central):
League insiders believe that a trade between the Rockets, who have the No. 3 pick, and the Grizzlies, who offer the No. 9 pick and Marcus Smart, is something to monitor, per @TheSteinLine
“The idea that the Rockets could trade Wednesday’s No. 3 overall pick to Memphis for No. 9 and Marcus Smart — so the Grizzlies can draft Donovan Clingan — is being mentioned with increasing regularity by various league insiders.”
Smart has two more years remaining on his current contract which will pay him $20.2 million in 2024-25 and $21.58 million in 2025-26.
A three-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member, Smart can give the Rockets another layer of tough defensive presence on the perimeter. One issue with Smart, though, is that he’s never been an efficient offensive weapon. He is a career 38.8 percent shooter from the field. He’s also making just 32.3 percent of his attempts from 3-point distance.
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