The Mavericks may pursue Celtics guard Marcus Smart in free agency, according to Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com.
Smart will be a restricted free agent if Boston extends a $6MM qualifying offer. Otherwise, he would be unrestricted.
Smart’s price tag could be high, as he stated recently that he believes he’s worth more than $12-$14MM per year. That wouldn’t be the right price for the Mavs to chase Smart, according to Fischer, who says the veteran guard isn’t at the top of Dallas’ wish list but could be targeted if the club can secure him at a lower cost.
The player the Mavericks draft with the No. 5 pick will play a role in which free agents they pursue next month, Fisher adds.
A superior defender, Smart averaged 10.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 4.8 APG in 29.9 MPG for the Eastern Conference Finalists last season.
Unless a team that is close to the cap basement offers Smart a crazy one year balloon deal for like $18MM, I think the Celts will match any offer.
Marcus Smart is the guard version of Draymond Green. He just makes things happen. Defense, rebounds, Grit, leadership.
Agreed. His shot is horrible, but his motor is what every team and player love to have on their side.
Good comparison.
I really like the guy. He just plays “winning basketball”.
Why would Dallas want him they already have DSJ, & Smart can’t play the SG as it involves shooting, I would pass unless he comes real cheap, don’t think is gonna Dallas.
Smart will do the backcourt dirty work, including bringing the ball up the court when Smith does not want to. Wes Mathews probably is not so helpful or good at that. But it will be about cost… $12-14mil per year is too much.
Kinda like what Deshawn Stevenson was for the Mavs
Smart is so much better than little cameos that Stevenson showed. Stevenson and Stephenson are both streetballer style guys, similar to Rafer Alston (a former one)
Anyone else remember when Lance Stephenson got paid? Yea…. 2.0
He’s a local guy in Dallas and the mavs always go for the local guys.
You can’t appreciate Smart unless you watch him every game. Everyone remembers his 2 offensive fouls drawn against Harden last year. He does stuff like that on the regular. He’s definitely worth the 12-14.