Celtics starting point guard Marcus Smart, already the Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Defensive First Teamer, has added another end-of-season honor to his résumé.
The league has given Smart the 2021/22 NBA Hustle Award, per a press statement. The award is given to players who contribute to their teams in ways that transcend traditional box score statistics, including deflections, screen assists, box-outs, loose balls recovered, drawn charges, and contested shots.
Smart previously won the award for the 2018/19 NBA season. With the hardware this year, he becomes the first-ever two-time recipient of the honor, which debuted during the 2016/17 season.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- With Nets assistant coach Ama’re Stoudemire moving on and David Vanterpool and Adam Harrington also expected to join the exodus, head coach Steve Nash‘s bench could look quite different next season, writes Brian Lewis of the New York Post. Former Hornets head coach James Borrego could be a target as a seasoned assistant for next season. Lewis adds that Brooklyn may make some changes to its front office personnel as well, mentioning that consultant Steve Clifford could also be looking to depart.
- Raptors All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet may be open to signing an extension with Toronto, but his decision could ultimately be dictated by the free agent market this season, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic in a new mailbag. Koreen also projects the Raptors’ starting lineup heading into next year, identifies the team’s biggest offseason need, and more.
- Knicks small forward RJ Barrett, who missed New York’s final game of the year with a knee sprain, appears to be recovered and ready to play for Team Canada in this summer’s World Cup qualifiers, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The Rodman Award
If the Knicks were smart, they’ll trade Barrett. A wing player who isn’t a good shooter is a backup. Such a player shouldn’t be extended and if the Knicks don’t give him what he wants as a former #3 pick, he’ll walk. As for Brunson, caveat emptor. He’s 3ptAtt/100 pos isn’t good and the Knicks have a better player at the point in Quickley, who I like very much.
You were so close, you almost made sense!…until the last part about Quickley being better than Brunson…well that and the part about trading Barrett because wing players should be better shooters yet he’s .357 career from behind the arc which is far better than Jimmy Butler who is one of the better wing players in the league.
Trade Barrett. That’s cute.
FVV for Barret and a couple of picks, preferably 2nd rounders
Cause you know, Barret can’t shoot lol
A good distributor boosts everyone’s stats, controls pace, and keeps bigs from wondering if anybody cares about their efforts. There’s not a good stat for it.
Quickly did not even have a good year shooting, 54% TS. Great on-off tho, +14.
Barrett should be given a chance to lead. Randle is the one who you trade. Dallas in a sign and trade for Brunson. Ty Jones should also get a look for starting PG in New Your. Quickley should be six man. IMO.
Nash needs to go.