Smart reveals the Grizzlies' organizational issues began before his own departure, sensing deeper problems even during his short, tumultuous tenure.
The way Marcus Smart tells it, the tension that unfolded in Memphis over the last year didn’t surprise him — because he felt its beginnings firsthand.
Smart’s departure from the Grizzlies, which ended after only 39 total games and a February trade to Washington, was one of several moves that preceded a sharp organizational spiral in Memphis.
The veteran guard, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, said he had no intention of leaving but was told otherwise.
In a recent interview with ClutchPoints, Smart explained that he was blindsided by the internal messaging around his exit.
He described returning from injury only to learn the franchise questioned his commitment.
“I came back from injury, and I got traded because they said I didn't want to be there,” Smart said. “I'm injured. What do you mean, I don't want to be here? I'm here every day working my (expletive) off, cheering. I'm the only one on the bench coaching, but you know how it is. Control what you can control.”
The Grizzlies traded for Smart in June 2023, hoping his experience and defensive intensity would stabilize a young roster still reshaping itself after parting with Dillon Brooks. He delivered flashes of that identity when healthy, averaging 14.5 points on 43% shooting in his first season. But injuries held him to 20 appearances, and he played just 19 games the following year before Memphis moved him to the Wizards as part of a cap-clearing maneuver.
Smart said he eventually made peace with the way things unfolded.
Once the Grizzlies unraveled late last season and continued facing internal strain, Smart suggested those problems had roots earlier than many realized.
“You see what's going on now,” he said. “That started with me.”
He emphasized that he still respects the players he left behind.
“I wish nothing but the best for them,” Smart added. “Those guys — they work their (expletive) off. But you could definitely see this coming, and now, this is what you get.”
Memphis’ slide after the trade deadline was swift. The team, which sat among the top three in the Western Conference in early February, collapsed down the stretch. Taylor Jenkins was fired in March, Tuomas Iisalo was elevated from interim to permanent coach, and the organization entered the offseason facing philosophical questions about roster building, leadership, and long-term stability.
Those uncertainties carried into the 2025–26 season. Ja Morant publicly challenged the coaching staff on Oct. 31, leading to a one-game suspension. Jake LaRavia — another deadline departure who later signed with the Lakers — was also moved just before the Grizzlies’ slide.
Smart, meanwhile, completed the season in Washington before securing a buyout and signing a two-year deal with Los Angeles. In 10 games, he has averaged 9.9 points and 3.2 assists in 28.6 minutes.
His first trip back to Memphis came on Oct. 31, a 117–112 Lakers win. Before that game, Smart’s tone toward his former team was notably warm.
He said he remained appreciative of the chance the Grizzlies gave him.
“Thankful to have an opportunity to be in a situation where things just didn't work for us,” he said on Oct. 31. “They took a chance on me, so I'm very thankful for that.”
Even as he moves forward in Los Angeles, Smart’s reflections reveal how quickly the Grizzlies’ hopes of veteran stability dissolved — and how the consequences are still being felt.