I agree. Loved Smart, but it was time to move on as he was holding the team back. Remember that White putback against Miami after the missed contested turnaround three by Smart, while White was open in the corner?
Anyway, Brad Stevens has done a good job, to say the least. Two years at the steering wheel.
A quick overview of his consequential major player moves (2nd round picks and other non-substantial elements excluded):
Kemba Walker + 1st round pick (became Alperen Sengün) => Al Horford (and Moses Brown)
Moses Brown => Josh Richardson
Signed Enes Freedom and Dennis Schröder
Josh Richardson + Romeo Langford + 1st round pick (became Blake Wesley) => Derrick White
Enes Freedom + Dennis Schröder => Daniel Theis
Aaron Nesmith + Daniel Theis + first round pick (became Julian Strawther) => Malcolm Brogdon
Signed Sam Hauser to a multi-year contract
Signed Danilo Gallinari
Marcus Smart + Danilo Gallinari => Kristaps Porzingis + two 1st round picks
Malcolm Brogdon + Robert Williams + two 1st round picks => Jrue Holiday
Summary: Walker, Smart, Langford, Fournier, Nesmith, G.Williams, Thompson, R.Williams and 3 first rounders => Holiday, White, Hauser, Horford, Porzingis