I think part of the Marcus smart experience was a tendency to sow chaos and go off script. He also very clearly went against the idea of doing as much as possible to find the best shot… as he very often preferred his own.I wonder if his relative lack of that same relationship background with Smart (Who predates Mazzulla in the organization by several years, while CJM and the Jays arrived roughly at the same time) was a factor in needing to ship Marcus out in order to unlock the best potential of this team. I didn't see too many signs last year that Smart didn't buy in, he mostly was just playing the way he always had... but maybe in retrospect, that itself was a sign that Mazzulla wasn't getting through to him, while both of the Jays have improved in very visible, measurable ways each of the last few years.
I also think he saw himself as a leader and as a peer of Tatum and Brown rather than someone that should defer to them… which also meant he wouldn’t/didn’t take kindly to a smaller role.. and wouldn’t allow DWhite to expand his role as was very clearly needed.
I think any coach would struggle under those circumstances and Smart was the one who had to go do that Joe could become the main voice in the room.