Once the Celtics were bounced from the 2018 postseason by the Cavaliers, it didn’t take long for speculation about Boston’s offseason to begin. Veteran guard Marcus Smart, who will be a restricted free agent, got the rumor mill going when he was asked after Sunday’s loss about the Celtics potentially being unable or unwilling to re-sign him to a deal in the $12-14MM range.
“To be honest, I’m worth more than $12-14 million,” Smart told ESPN, as we relayed this morning. “Just for the things I do on the court that don’t show up on the stat sheet. You don’t find guys like that. I always leave everything on the court, every game. Tell me how many other players can say that.”
As Smart suggests, his numbers don’t particularly jump off the stat sheet — in 54 games (11 starts) this season, he posted 10.2 PPG, 4.8 APG, and 3.5 RPG, with a subpar shooting line (.367/.301/.729). However, Smart makes up for his offensive limitations on the other side of the ball, keying Boston’s defense with his excellent play on the perimeter.
When Smart was on the floor this season, the Celtics’ defense – which led the NBA in overall defensive rating – was at its best. The club had a 99.4 defensive rating with Smart on the court, compared to 103.0 when he sat. That trend continued into the playoffs, as Boston’s defensive rating was 3.5 points better when Smart played. The C’s even posted marginally better offensive numbers with Smart on the court, despite his inconsistent shooting.
Those advanced numbers help show how important Smart is to the Celtics. Andre Roberson has a similar impact in Oklahoma City, earning a three-year, $30MM contract from the Thunder last offseason despite being even less of an offensive threat than Smart. When Roberson went down with a season-ending injury this year, OKC missed him badly, and you could make the case that Smart’s absence would negatively affect the Celtics in the same way — after all, Smart’s teammates refer to him as the heart of the club.
Unlike the Thunder though, the Celtics have a ton of depth in their backcourt and on the wing. If they don’t bring back Smart, they’ll still head into 2018/19 with Kyrie Irving, Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Gordon Hayward available as playmakers and perimeter defenders. And while there are no CBA rules stopping the Celtics from paying whatever it takes to keep Smart, the team is likely headed into tax territory down the road once youngsters like Rozier, Brown, and Tatum are up for raises. As such, it may not be worth it for the franchise to invest heavily in Smart.
What do you think? Do the Celtics need to make it a priority to re-sign Smart this summer, even if they have to overpay a little to do it? Or is Boston’s roster deep enough that the club should try to bring back Smart at a team-friendly price, and let him walk if he gets a better offer? Will Smart be wearing Celtic green next October?
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he won’t be back
I doubt it he’s also trash
If the Celtics give a qualifying offer, then yes he will. If they do not, then he will be elsewhere. Regardless, I don’t think he will be making more than the mid-level exception from someone else or the QO from Boston. And even that is too much for his overrated behind.
Can be readily replaced by others guards who would be looking to take a pay cut to join a contender
He’s a complimentary piece on what will be a tremendously strong team. There will be others ready and willing to take his place at a more team-friendly cap number. I think he’s gone.
I just wonder who will pay him.
I could see the cavaliers going after the thug
That doesn’t even make any sense financially
Thug? How much of your free time do you dedicate to people living with cancer? Bet not more than he does.
Sounds like he’s going to take the QO, unless he’s willing to change his mind on 14million+. No team will offer him that in RFA. However I’d say they should certainly match any offer up to 12 annually. Is he worth that much? Obviously not. But unless I looked at the cap incorrectly who exactly can they sign? They’ll have the mid level to work with, the only way you get a better overall player than Smart for the Mid Level would be on a guy taking a major paycut. That doesn’t generally happen for the C’s. If this was a mid-small market team I’d say “okay I get the financial limitations”. But I thought Boston was title town, and when theirs a chance to win one that they go all in. With Hayward and Irving coming back, resigning smart would give them an insanely deep team. “B-b-b-but, we have Rozier!” oh goody going from one below 40% shooting PG to the next one, wait and he’s not as good defensively? Doesn’t sound Smart
All cap issues aside, you don’t pay a guy if you don’t think he’s worth the money. It doesn’t make any sense to justify a signing when you already came right out and said you don’t think he’s worth the cost.
I don’t think any team will offer him that either. Of course I could have written the same thing about Tim Hardaway Jr. last season at this time and he got paid. If Smart is willing to go to an Atlanta or Dallas or Orlando and be willing to lose for a while, he might get paid. He just has to choose whether he wants $5 million a year on a winner or $15 million on a loser. To me, $5 million in a year is more than enough money to feed and shelter myself, so I know what I would do. However, Smart seems to have an inflated sense of self and I have a feeling he will sign with whoever offers the most money regardless of anything else.
Im willing to bet some non playoff team offers 15m+ per season, guess it depends on what hes looking for contention or just paper
Should they? No.
Will they? Also no.
Really ??? I am Worth way more than that. Making more in a year than 99%of the world in a lifetime. That is what is wrong with Pro Sports. Greedy owners and players.
I LOVE Marcus Smart and think a contending team needs him on their ballclub. However, that said, it’s hard to see him matching an offer. He’s right: he is worth that money. However with Kyrie and Rozier in the backcourt as it is, it may be hard to squeeze him back in. I’m just not sure if he will be able to return despite all he does on the court.
He blocked a James dunk gm7, but he only averages 0.7 blocks per 100 poss., and his overall numbers did not improve in the postseason.
On the other hand his QO won’t be that much, and the team overperformed with him starting.
I doubt Celts offer as much as another team.
He’s not a starter quality guard, and nobody pays a bench player, even a 6th man, $12-14 mil, not without huge regrets. The whole league has a hangover from the 2016 summer, so he won’t get more the a MLE offer. No way the C’s don’t offer the QO, and doubtful he gets more. I love what he adds to the team, and other coaches & teams might, but he’d be a hard sell to an opposing fanbase, at a # the C’s don’t match. odds are he stays. I expect he signs the QO, then hits UFA next summer
I think he’s coming back. Sounds like Mgmt already told him they want him back and you can’t replace his defense and toughness. He’s either getting 4/$14M or 4/$15 unless someone offers him $17M a year for 4 or more. Remember what Eric Turner received when he left in FA to sign with Portland. Kyrie tends to not play full seasons, Jaylen Brown is still working on consistency. I see Rozier leaving maybe in a year and DA to draft a young PG.
I assume you predict Smart will get a 4/$56-4/$60mil offer from Boston unless someone else offers 5/$85mil.
As a Cavs fan I would not mind if Boston jams themselves up.
Smart the heart of the Celts? I thought that was IT & Crowder. Next year Theiss.
I fine if he goes there’s just to muck flopping and bs with him
A system player. Buyer Beware.
I think that he is very arrogant for a player that isn’t that good. I can understand maybe a star saying I deserve a max or supermax contract, but he is a role player, maybe a very good one, but never a starting quality, you cannot give over that money for a sub, it would be ridiculous, sooo arrogant thug.
Lol Evan Fournier getting $17MM per season and Roberson got a 3 yr $30MM deal and people in here don’t think Smart getting paid..
Smh.
EXACTLY
Evan fournier is actually decent but i still wouldnt give him or smart that money not worth it imo
Those years when those contracts were signed there were a lot more teams with cap room to use. This year, there might be 4-5 teams with enough room to offer an eight figure yearly deal. There are a lot more than 4-5 players better than Smart that will be on the market as well. Heck, there are probably more than 4-5 RESTRICTED free agents better than Smart. He’ll be lucky to get a full mid-level exception.
Suns written all over him
I think Smart is a tough, quality defensive player that possesses positive intangibles not shown in his statistics. But I also think he feels he’s worth much more than the Celtics do. I don’t know what other teams may be willing to offer, but I would guess the Celts would only match $10m. That’s below Smart’s expectations, and considering his apparent arrogance, keeping him at that salary may very possibly create a disgruntled player.
As a point guard, his absence would be covered by Irving’s return. As a small forward, he’s replaced with Hayward’s return.
What we will have is a hole at shooting guard. Jabari Bird cannot replace Smart, but I think he’s done a more than adequate job as a two way player this year, and I’d like to see him back.