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Knicks Trade Rumors: Pros and Cons of potentially trading for Marcus Smart

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 17, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 17: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts in the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game One of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 17, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics battle for the ball in the second half during Game One of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 17, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 17: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics battle for the ball in the second half during Game One of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 17, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Pro: Defensive Proficiency

If nothing else appeals to you about Marcus Smart, it would still need to be noted that he’s won over fans, coaches, and teammates with his commitment to defense. He’s a rugged defender with the ability to defend multiple positions at a high level.

For a New York Knicks team that must commit to defense above all else, landing Smart would be a significant step towards realizing a promising vision.

Standing at 6’4″ and 220 pounds with a 6’9″ wingspan, Smart has an elite physical profile for an NBA point guard. His measurables are comparable to Dwyane Wade, which is quite impressive when one considers he plays the 1.

This is in no way saying that Smart can develop into a Hall of Famer like Wade, but instead a testament to how capable he is from a physical perspective.

Smart put those physical gifts into action by averaging 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals per 36 minutes through 207 career games. More importantly, he ranked No. 13 amongst point guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus in 2016-17.

Both in the way he impacts the team and the manner in which he frustrates his assignments, Smart is an outstanding defender who would win over New York.

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