Marcus Smart‘s extension with the Celtics puts him at the intersection of being a franchise cornerstone and on the trade block, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic.
As Weiss observes, the timing of Smart’s deal – during Summer League as opposed to right before the regular season – points to the possibility of his inclusion in a superstar deal, as the usual moratorium on trading players off an extension has been changed from six to five months due to the shortened offeason. As a result, Smart will be trade-eligible before the 2022 deadline.
Weiss adds that the Celtics wouldn’t make this deal strictly for trade purposes, noting that it’s also an indication of their belief in the gritty guard and that Smart and new head coach Ime Udoka are a match made in heaven.
“He has that edge and toughness about him,” Udoka said of Smart soon after being hired. “The things he brings to your team are the things you’d love every player to bring.”
Udoka also called Smart the heart and soul of the team. The four-year, $77.1MM extension is a bet that that’s still true even if he’s given the added responsibility of leading the team’s offense.
We have more news from the Celtics:
- Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston has similar thoughts, writing that – rather than preventing the Celtics from adding another big name – the Smart extension actually opens up multiple pathways for a deal to be made. Forsberg adds that despite the Celtics signing Dennis Schroder, Smart should be considered the best bet to be the team’s starting point guard entering the season, and that much of the Celtics’ ceiling as a team will revolve around how the trio of Smart, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is able to function together with Smart at the helm.
- Joel Embiid‘s super-max extension does more than just lock up the Sixers’ All-NBA center through 2027, writes Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice. It also sends a message of stability and desirability to stars around the league as president Daryl Morey continues to shop Ben Simmons and hunt for a second superstar to pair with Embiid. Neubeck adds there were rumors the Knicks hoped to pair Embiid and Damian Lillard once Embiid’s contract ended in 2023, which is now off the table.
- Partizan Belgrade is “very close” to a deal with Celtics stash pick Yam Madar to a two-year deal, according to a MozzartSport report (hat tip to Sportando). The Serbian team would pay $250K for Madar’s buyout with current team Hapoel Tel Aviv. It was previously reported that Madar was likely to sign with Ratiopharm Ulm.
This extension will make it more difficult for other NBA teams to………………………………………………….
GET SMART !!
According to article
In 2023
Knicks want to pair Embiid and Lillard
It’s super smart
You can always think about good trade, man
Celtics you have a bunch of guard and good wings. Schroder Smart Edwards Pritchard JRuch Brown Tatum Nesmith Langford and Dunn.
How about trading some for a big?
Al Horford, Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford for KP and Cauley-Stein.
KP even with all the slander, is only 26 which works perfectly with Tatum 23 and Brown 24. Last season he played and started 43 games, putting up 20-9-1.5, shooting a career high 47% from the field, 37% from three and a career high 85% from the free throw line. KP is a 7’3 PF/C that is hugely versatile and would elevate your team right up to one of the best in the league.
Your buying him low and in reality not giving up a huge amount. Langford has been with the team for 2 season and last year only played 18 times, going 35% from the field. Nesmith definitely has more upside, as a rookie he played 46 games but only averaged 15 minutes per game.
Dallas and particularly Doncic seemed to struggle with KP in the playoffs and it looked like Doncic was not giving KP the ball on open looks. He looked set for a trade come this offseason but noise has gone quiet. In this return Dallas would be getting back Horford who is a solid vet that can play the 5 spot without completely blocking up the paint. He’s a good defender and could teach some of the young guys some stuff. You’d also be getting back young high upside players in Langford and Nesmith, which you could develop or flip in a deal for Dragic.
Celtics would then have a line up something like..
1. Schroder. Pritchard. Edwards
2. Brown. Smart. Dunn
3. Tatum. JRich
4. KP. GWilliams
5. RWilliams. Kanter. Brown
KPs value is down at the moment, but it ain’t THAT low. Dallas wants to improve their team, not get worse.
Fun idea, but only the Celtics benefit in that arrangement
Yeah but I think Horford could be a good addition and long term wise Nesmith and Langford would be good additions maybe sweeten the deal by giving up a couple seconds or protected first
The only place Al Horford is going to be good now is right where he is., with Boston. Celtics showed previously they knew how to use him. In Philly he was just shunted aside.
Him going to Philly was always a bad idea.
Knicks were going after CP3. They also wanted Lowry. Then Dame was going to NY. LaVine was considering NY. Knicks were after Ball. KAT was coming to NY too. Now it’s Embiid and Dame.
These MFrs are worse that fairy tale writers. All I heard is no one is coming to NY. Since they couldn’t get KD and Kyrie.
Knicks NEVER made an offer to either one. So how are these players coming here. If nobody wants to come here. This BS is about as bad as all the geniuses on this board . So see have faith in your point of view. If you really follow this game and really care. You can’t do worse than these reader beggars.
Knicks are better off continuing to build through the draft, and then compensating roster holes adding smart, veteran additions through free agency..
Idk why everyone has such a fascination with the Knicks having to get superstars. Right now, they seem to be doing the best they have in a couple decades and they’ve somehow managed that WITHOUT ANY SUPERSTARS!!!
Of course Dame would fit perfectly on the Knicks, but if you have to gut everything they’ve built and put together to get him, it isn’t worth it.
If I’m WWW and Thibs I just keep the ball rolling, if a star becomes available in free agency, and they want to join the team for the right reasons, then okay, make a deal. However, if it is going to take a trade, they’re better off continuing to build through the draft and making smart free agency signings that fit around and compliment their growing core.
The real problem is our owner. Believes in the media. He wants to always be in the news. Reason we’ve been ok . Is he’s stayed out of Knicks business.
Yeah, isn’t it funny, how once he disappeared, put some actually intelligent people in charge, and stopped meddling, magically the Knicks became a good team again!?!
I, for one, don’t believe in coincidences. I love what they’re doing in NY right now, and I think we could see a bulked up Robinson, RJB, Toppin, and Quickley all take steps forward this season. That’s the case especially for Toppin, I think Thibs will finally give him some extended run and let the young man loose..
Not to mention the Grimes kid they drafted is an under the radar, former top prospect that’s going to eventually surprise alot of people. It may not be this year, because Thibs lack of trust in rookies and whatnot, but he will eventually be too good for Thibs to keep off the court.
Knicks could have one young and fun second unit this year!!
I always liked Smart. Cause he’s a 2way player. To me those are the best players in the game. The real Superstars are 2way players. You can’t win chips. If you can’t make stops.
Imo Smart can play the point. I’m going to like watching him pull it off. Schroeder to me is best as sixth man. So this tandem can work for Celtics. Schroeder has something to prove. Smart got something to prove. Celtics after last yr have something to prove. Always been an Al guy, he’s got something to prove. Stevens got something to prove. Celtics got a chip on their shoulders this yr. They are going to be in top 4 contention. And a tough out in playoffs. They all got something to prove.
Ya, as I’ve said, I dont expect Schroder to impact Smart’s opportunities. I alsondont think he was a necessary addition. Last year, they refused to use Nesmoth and Pritchard in certain situations, and I complained about it all season. Watching them in summer league bothered me even more. Hopefully their young guys are used correctly this season, and their new coach fixes all the mistakes Steven’s made last year with their rotations
“… the usual moratorium on trading players off an extension has been changed from six to five months due to the shortened offeason. As a result, Smart will be trade-eligible before the 2022 deadline.”
I have the “trade waiting” date as Mar3; 5 months before that is Oct3. So there is about one month and 15 days before this one-off deadline. It barely explains the rush to extend now.
Indeed I think such thoughts reflect a general Celtic-fan desire to see Smart traded. I suspect Pritchard will soon be the best PG over both Smart and Shroder.
It seems like the NBA is getting back to all its usual dates for 2021/22, so I’d expect the trade deadline to be in early February, not early March.
link to notradeclause.com
New site I need to check.
They did say the trade deadline Mar25 was tentative, so maybe it still needs to be worked out. Other sites did not try such a complete list of dates.
I think those dates are for 2020/21. My guess is that the 2022 trade deadline will be either February 3 or 10.
Got it. New site needs to work on their headlining!