NBA GMs call Celtics Smart best perimeter defender, Brogdon ‘most underrated’ acquisition

The NBA released the results of the league’s annual GM survey on Tuesday and a few Boston Celtics received league-wise praise.

Guard Marcus Smart, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, was named the league’s best perimeter defender by the pool of 30 general managers. As the best defender on the league’s best defense, Smart posted a 107.1 defensive rating last season and was one of only two guards to rank in the top 20 in both defensive rating and Defensive Win Shares.

Smart’s fellow backcourt teammate also received some recognition. First-year Celtic Malcolm Brogdon was called the league’s “most underrated acquisition” by 28 percent of the GMs. The Celtics traded for the guard in July, sending a 2023 first round pick and a plethora of other players to Indiana in return. Although the 29-year-old has suffered from injuries throughout his career, the former 2017 All-Rookie team brings a tremendous amount of playmaking upside to the Celtics’ 2nd unit. According to Vegas Insider, Brogdon has the fourth best odds to take home Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2023.

Jayson Tatum also received the second most votes for best small forward. The Celtics 24-year-old star received 24 percent of the GMs votes, behind only Kevin Durant’s 45 percent.

GMs are also bullish on the team as a whole. Eleven percent of GMs picked Boston to win the 2023 NBA title, the fourth highest percentage in the league behind Milwaukee’s 43 percent, the Warriors’ 25 percent and the LA Clippers’ 21 percent.

The Celtics were overwhelmingly named the best defensive team in the league, taking home 69 percent of the votes in the category.

Celtic fans will also be pleased to know their influence is felt around the league. When deciding which team has the best home-court advantage, 17 percent of GMs tabbed the Boston faithful with the honor.

The entirety of the NBA GM survey can be read on the league’s website.

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