(Bleacher) Report: Twolves targeting Marcus Smart

[Celtics2021]

I'm not sure if this has been posted, and it just feeds the fire of "anybody can be a source", but:

“Minnesota definitely trying to trade for Marcus Smart. But, unless they include a first-round pick or Jaden McDaniels in addition to Malik Beasley, [a deal] most likely doesn’t get done.” – @DWolfsonKSTP on @SKORNorth

This is just plagiarizing what the Athletic beat writers for the Celtics and Wolves jointly reported earlier this week.  For what it’s worth, those writers (Weiss and somebody for Minny who’s name I can’t spell) we’re willing to back each other up on that info, so it probably has more legs than some pieces of info.

[radiohead]

I’m having Perk vibes with a potential Smart trade. I feel it may disrupt whatever chemistry the team has built on en route to this win streak. The team is definitely confident right now. Trading Smart may be good for the long term but the team is playing so well now that i’m starting to think if it would be such a good idea to trade him. If ever, Brad better make sure that the Jays are all in with the move.

[Vermont Green]

So Malik Beasley and Jalen McDaniels for Smart?  I remember McDaniels in the draft, very young, very raw, but a ton of potential.  With Beasley, I feel like we are getting one dimensional player who isn't all that good (see below scouting report that I found).  To be honest, I am not all that familiar with either of the players, haven't seen them play all that much (McDaniels maybe never).

I am very hesitant to trade Smart.  If you believe McDaniels is going to be a starting level PF in the very near future, this deal makes some sense but I love Marcus and would be very careful about trading him.  I would have to be really sure about McDaniels.  I am sure the scouts have their opinions on McDaniels.  For example, is he going to be better than RWill?  If so, how long to we have to wait?

SCOUTING REPORT
Really excels as a jump shooter. Has excellent form and body control, and can hit consistently from all over the court and from 3-point range. Brings superb and explosive leaping ability, and is a quick and fluid athlete who's a good rebounder for a shooting guard. Excellent coming off screens and filling the lane. Mature and hard-working. Struggles at both ends in pure one-on-one situations (since he's not a top-end ball-handler or passer for a guard, and not long or big enough to defend very regularly at small forward). May be limited somewhat to the shooting guard spot.

Long Range Potential: Athletic, talented combo guard, with off-the-bench scorer appeal.

[Roy H.]

I’m having Perk vibes with a potential Smart trade. I feel it may disrupt whatever chemistry the team has built on en route to this win streak. The team is definitely confident right now. Trading Smart may be good for the long term but the team is playing so well now that i’m starting to think if it would be such a good idea to trade him. If ever, Brad better make sure that the Jays are all in with the move.

Yeah, trades at the deadline are always tricky.  Sometimes, they can kill chemistry.  The Perk trade is a great example of that.

Other times, a mid-season trade can give a team a big bump.  We saw that when Danny reacquired Antoine, and the team went on a decent winning streak (which eventually faded).  Danny stated last year that one of the reasons he acquired Fournier was because he thought the team was spiraling downward, and wanted to give the team a boost.

With Marcus, there would be various things to weigh out.  To me, it seems likely that trading him would result in both a hit to chemistry and to play on the floor.  The team is at its peak right now, and surely a trade would hurt their confidence.  Nobody likes it when management seemingly gives up on a team in the middle of the season.

So the questions are:  1) does blowing up this particular team's chances matter; and 2) does any trade make us better long-term?  And for those questions, I don't have a clear sense.  There have been times this season when trading Marcus for a serviceable player and a pick in the teens looked like a Godsend.  At this point, though, I think I'd wait until the off-season.

[wdleehi]

Unless it is for a clear star level player, non of the key  players should be moved. 

[Celtics2021]

Looking into it more, a Beasley-McDaniels deal feels pretty unlikely in the next three days, as that is a salary adding move.  Even if Fernando were moved with Smart that still adds payroll, and it becomes that much more difficult to get under the tax.  On the other hand, Beasley and McDaniels saves the C’s money next year, and provides the team two players instead of one, so this could very much be something that happens over the summer.

[td450]

Unless it is for a clear star level player, non of the key  players should be moved.

I don't agree with that, but I do think that as long as we want to move forward with Tatum, Brown and Williams as starters, we need one playmaking starter now, and another starter to replace Horford soon. I wouldn't trade Smart for any package that didn't solve for at least one of those slots and didn't improve playmaking.

Stars re not required, but playmaking and fit are necessary. A rotation scorer would be nice, but that doesn't get us anywhere, and Smart can only be traded once.

[wdleehi]

Unless it is for a clear star level player, non of the key  players should be moved.

I don't agree with that, but I do think that as long as we want to move forward with Tatum, Brown and Williams as starters, we need one playmaking starter now, and another starter to replace Horford soon. I wouldn't trade Smart for any package that didn't solve for at least one of those slots and didn't improve playmaking.

Stars re not required, but playmaking and fit are necessary. A rotation scorer would be nice, but that doesn't get us anywhere, and Smart can only be traded once.

Stars are not required to help this team, but considering how well those 4 play together, I would only break them up for a star at this moment.   Instead, the rest of the team can be used to find the pieces that fit better around them long term. 

[Celtics2021]

The more I think about the Smart rumor, given the C’s asking price, the more I think it to have been a real demand by the C’s.  It doesn’t make sense on it own — Beasley is a pure gunner and the C’s aren’t going to trade their best PG, flawed tho he can be sometimes, for someone like Beasley on a team where the ball sticks too often.  So there must be another move the C’s had lined up.  Something like:

Wolves get Smart

Mavs get McDaniels or 1st (also Fernando)

Celtics get Beasley and Brunson.

The Mavs asking price had been a 1st or a good prospect for Brunson, so this checks that box. Meanwhile, the C’s get a starting PG and a bench scorer, are salary neutral this year (Bol and/or Dozier would be dumped) and have Brunson’s Bird rights next year, so they can use TPEs to acquire other depth in the off-season.

[Roy H.]

The more I think about the Smart rumor, given the C’s asking price, the more I think it to have been a real demand by the C’s.  It doesn’t make sense on it own — Beasley is a pure gunner and the C’s aren’t going to trade their best PG, flawed tho he can be sometimes, for someone like Beasley on a team where the ball sticks too often.  So there must be another move the C’s had lined up.  Something like:

Wolves get Smart

Mavs get McDaniels or 1st (also Fernando)

Celtics get Beasley and Brunson.

The Mavs asking price had been a 1st or a good prospect for Brunson, so this checks that box. Meanwhile, the C’s get a starting PG and a bench scorer, are salary neutral this year (Bol and/or Dozier would be dumped) and have Brunson’s Bird rights next year, so they can use TPEs to acquire other depth in the off-season.

If that were a possibility, I think the Celts would have to do it. 

[Celtics2021]

The more I think about the Smart rumor, given the C’s asking price, the more I think it to have been a real demand by the C’s.  It doesn’t make sense on it own — Beasley is a pure gunner and the C’s aren’t going to trade their best PG, flawed tho he can be sometimes, for someone like Beasley on a team where the ball sticks too often.  So there must be another move the C’s had lined up.  Something like:

Wolves get Smart

Mavs get McDaniels or 1st (also Fernando)

Celtics get Beasley and Brunson.

The Mavs asking price had been a 1st or a good prospect for Brunson, so this checks that box. Meanwhile, the C’s get a starting PG and a bench scorer, are salary neutral this year (Bol and/or Dozier would be dumped) and have Brunson’s Bird rights next year, so they can use TPEs to acquire other depth in the off-season.

If that were a possibility, I think the Celts would have to do it.

Seems like the Wolves rejected the Celtics, so it might not be a possibility, but it’s the only thing that made logical sense to me, unless there’s another starting quality PG on the block making at or near the minimum.

[Roy H.]

The more I think about the Smart rumor, given the C’s asking price, the more I think it to have been a real demand by the C’s.  It doesn’t make sense on it own — Beasley is a pure gunner and the C’s aren’t going to trade their best PG, flawed tho he can be sometimes, for someone like Beasley on a team where the ball sticks too often.  So there must be another move the C’s had lined up.  Something like:

Wolves get Smart

Mavs get McDaniels or 1st (also Fernando)

Celtics get Beasley and Brunson.

The Mavs asking price had been a 1st or a good prospect for Brunson, so this checks that box. Meanwhile, the C’s get a starting PG and a bench scorer, are salary neutral this year (Bol and/or Dozier would be dumped) and have Brunson’s Bird rights next year, so they can use TPEs to acquire other depth in the off-season.

If that were a possibility, I think the Celts would have to do it.

Seems like the Wolves rejected the Celtics, so it might not be a possibility, but it’s the only thing that made logical sense to me, unless there’s another starting quality PG on the block making at or near the minimum.

I haven't followed these rumors closely, but the Twolves reportedly turned it down?  Beasley and a non-lotto 1st for Smart would seem to be a good deal for them.

[Celtics2021]

The more I think about the Smart rumor, given the C’s asking price, the more I think it to have been a real demand by the C’s.  It doesn’t make sense on it own — Beasley is a pure gunner and the C’s aren’t going to trade their best PG, flawed tho he can be sometimes, for someone like Beasley on a team where the ball sticks too often.  So there must be another move the C’s had lined up.  Something like:

Wolves get Smart

Mavs get McDaniels or 1st (also Fernando)

Celtics get Beasley and Brunson.

The Mavs asking price had been a 1st or a good prospect for Brunson, so this checks that box. Meanwhile, the C’s get a starting PG and a bench scorer, are salary neutral this year (Bol and/or Dozier would be dumped) and have Brunson’s Bird rights next year, so they can use TPEs to acquire other depth in the off-season.

If that were a possibility, I think the Celts would have to do it.

Seems like the Wolves rejected the Celtics, so it might not be a possibility, but it’s the only thing that made logical sense to me, unless there’s another starting quality PG on the block making at or near the minimum.

I haven't followed these rumors closely, but the Twolves reportedly turned it down?  Beasley and a non-lotto 1st for Smart would seem to be a good deal for them.

Yes, when I read the report last week, it was the Celtics asked for Beasley and a “solid first” or McDaniels, and the Wolves said no.  There was an implication the “no” was because Minny still wants to save its bullets for Simmons, so maybe it was a wait-and-see no.