Even with Malcolm Brogdon addition, Marcus Smart remains Celtics' 'unquestioned' starting point guard
A team source stressed Friday Marcus Smart remains the Celtics’ unquestioned starting point guard, and that the team was simply looking to add depth. Brogdon and Gallinari both had starring roles, but they’re willing to step back in order to pursue championships. – via Boston Globe
The Celtics still have other assets at their disposal, as their $17.1 million trade exception that expires July 18 was not used in the Brogdon deal. But a league source said the team is now unlikely to use that to acquire another substantial piece. The source said the Celtics had actively pursued trades involving the exception over the past two weeks, but ultimately the deal involving Brogdon, whose salary was too large to fit into the exception, turned out to be the best option. – via Boston Globe
This seems reasonable regarding the TPE. They got their big piece in the Brogdon trade by shipping out Theis and others. Nesmith still has some promise but you can find guys like him. We end up in a much better place after this trade than if we had used the TPE for a lesser player (no way to get Brogdon with the TPE). I am sure there will be posts bemoaning the "cheap" owners when the TPE expires but this is actually a terrific outcome for the Celtics even considering we had to give up Nesmith. We still have until Jul 18 if someone wants to offer us a useful player to fit the TPE, and we should be open to that kind of surprise deal, but it is pretty unlikely at this point.
The other key statement is that Smart is still the lead PG. It is good they put that out there. I am sure Smart is both glad to hear that put out there but also enough of a veteran to understand that if some team offers a silly good deal for Smart, the team will of course still trade Smart or White or anyone else.
So the current tally is:
In:JD Davison
Gallinari
Brogdon
Out:Theis
Nesmith
Stauskas
Fitts
Morgan
None of the outgoing players played more than a handful of meaningful minutes in the playoffs. Theis and Nesmith a few here and there but only due to injury. We really have given up very little and got back a couple of big improvements if you consider it as Gallinari replacing Theis and Brogdon replacing Nesmith.
Our starters are still the same but we now have Brogdon as the 6th man and Gallinari as the 7th, bumping White to 8th, Grant to 9th, and Pritchard to 10th. All positions 6-10 are significantly improved. Exactly what we need to address. And we have a ton of flexibility to fill slots 11-15 hopefully with some upside young players. Hauser is likely one of these, Kornet too I guess, maybe Brodric Thomas. Maybe we get Bryant or someone like him. All looks good.
