Celtics guard Marcus Smart is extension-eligible this offseason, but president of basketball operations Brad Stevens – who has coached Smart for the last several seasons – has been frustrated by his “unpredictable play,” sources tell Chris Mannix of SI.com.
Two people familiar with the Celtics’ thinking tell Mannix that Smart appears more likely to be traded than extended before the start of the 2021/22 season. When Boston shopped Smart last season, the team sought multiple first-round picks, but one Eastern Conference executive who spoke to Mannix suggests the guard’s value is more along the lines of one first-rounder and possibly a rotational player.
Here’s more from Mannix:
- Although re-signing Lonzo Ball doesn’t seem to be the Pelicans‘ top priority in free agency, several rival executives expect New Orleans to match any offer Ball receives if the club strikes out on its top free agent point guard targets, writes Mannix. That would allow the Pels to avoid losing Ball for nothing and would create the option of trading him down the road.
- The Trail Blazers haven’t given any indications at this point that they intend to deal Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum, according to Mannix, who says forward Nicolas Batum is among the free agents on Portland’s radar.
- The Sixers‘ asking price for Ben Simmons remains high. “Forget a Harden haul,” one exec in contact with the 76ers said to Mannix. “They want what Boston got for KG and Pierce.”
- Mannix adds the Mavericks to the list of teams that are expected to show interest in point guard Dennis Schröder.
- Teams are “increasingly wary” of Victor Oladipo‘s long-term health and multiple executives believe the two-time All-Star may go unsigned for a few months while he gets healthy following his latest quad tendon surgery, says Mannix.
- Mannix believes the Thunder could be in the mix for Zach Collins, observing that the big man is the kind of low-risk/high-reward player that Sam Presti loves.
“They want what Boston got for KG and Pierce.” for Simmons
LOL why doesn’t the acquiring team throw in a couple of dozen of kielbasa for good measure
The Sixers need to get over themselves!
Philly can forget even getting a Harden haul because they’ll be lucky just to get anything close to what the Wizards got for Westbrook. They’re not getting multiple first round picks or any All-Star players for Simmons.
It’s not like his value will go back up either, his inability to shoot from distance has been a problem long before his NBA career began. And was exacerbated when the Sixers tried to make him a PG.
teams should just let philly keep simmons and get bounced the same way next season lmao simmons then will be worth two bench players and a pick
KG & PP were beyond washed out when that trade happened, so… Simmons now is light years better than those two, so asking for their price is below the bare minimum that anyone should expect from PHI, right?
I would love Marcus Smart on the Warriors. He’s much like Kyle Lowry in my mind in that he’s not the perfect shooter he’s not the perfect player by any means, but you have to have them on the floor for 30-plus minutes. Things get done when Marcus is out there and you just can’t explain it. Yes Smart is unpredictable but you can’t put a price on that intangible stuff that wins games.
The Celtics heyday was when they had Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley in that back court and Isaiah Thomas I think coming off the bench for an offensive Spark. With young Brown and Tatum that team was a top top seed expectation. Now they are middle of the pack at best in the playoff picture in the east. Trade away Marcus Smart and they’ll regret it.
Kyle Lowry same kind of player. Up until the last couple years his 3-point shot was crappy and he was a turnover waiting to happen. But if you watch closely you see the little things he does and you have to have him on the floor and you win games. Yes Lowry shot has improved lately and he’s become more efficient basketball player, but he’s always been a winner.
I don’t know why this quote from Brad gets out unless he is trying to lessen impact of Smart’s departure on the fanbase. Everything you’re saying is correct.
Fact is he is their only/most valuable trade piece at this point. Not a surprise he is being shopped.
Marcus Smart is a winner. GS for sure would be 1 of many teams he would be great for. He was one of my favorite players in his draft, and has been one of my favorite players in the league ever since
Not that it matters, but Thomas was starting and Smart was primarily coming off the bench, which is what I think Smart’s best role is. He’s best as your 6th/7th man that can sub in for either guard spot or the SF spot. The biggest things Smart offers is his energy and defense/grit.
I have never been a big fan of Marcus Smart. He might be worth a rotational player + a lottery protected first rounder, but I wouldn’t give much more than that.
What about this
Celtics get
Kyle Kuzma
WAS 2025 1st rounder lotto protected
Wizards get
Marcus Smart
Smart could be the replacement for Westbrook. Kuzma at the 4 could allow the Celtics to play Brown at the 2 and Tatum at the 3 where they should be playing.
Why would the wizards trade a first rounder and Kuzma for Smart?
Is the 76ers front office asking Sillivan for trade ideas?
NOP call looks right. They don’t Ball, but don’t want anyone else taking him for nothing. Talking to the PGs they really want doesn’t mean much. What does is they shed enough salary that they can match on Ball regardless, and not worry about luxury tax. Which is all the Human Rabbit’s Foot cares about.
NO has been shopping Ball for two yrs now. It’s clear Ingram and Zion don’t want him. Or they would back him and he’d stay. It’s that simple. NO will sign n trade him cause they can. He has value. But it will be interesting to see what they get. And why draft Kira if you’re not going to give him a shot. This is desperation to me. Best thing they can do is get a shooter for Ball and sign Dinwiddie. Instant playoff team. Dinwiddie wants 25 mill. Nobody is giving him that. Offer escalating 4yr 90 mill.
Yo if Boston wants to move on from Marcus Smart for some reason, sign me up, and a bunch of other teams. I would go to war with him every single day of the week