It Sure Feels Like Smart Is Done Here

[gouki88]

Yeah, I think I'm there. At this point he's lost far more games than he's won this year. Defence is really poor by his standards.

Does anyone else think he's looking a little bigger? Sort of like when he first got here. It was okay for him to be roaming around at 230lbs because he was guarding 2-4 and AB was guarding the quick perimeter guys, but Smart at the moment doesn't seem to be nearly fast enough laterally.

[flybono]

Don’t let the door hit you in the arse.....

[MattyIce]

I don't see it that way.

I see a good chunk of the fan-base turning their negative attention on Smart but for the wrong reasons. They are correct in criticizing some of the offensive play of Smart but are wrong in pinpointing Smart as the problem. The reason is the lack of offensive options on this team which is forcing Smart to do more than he is individually best served doing.

They should be criticizing the roster construction - not Smart.

I do not see Ainge falling into the same trap. He has never been a reactionary GM. So my expectation is that Ainge views Smart as valuable as he always has (and as disposable / tradable as he always has). That nothing has changed for Ainge in how he views Smart's play.

agreed TP

[colincb]

I don't see it that way.

I see a good chunk of the fan-base turning their negative attention on Smart but for the wrong reasons. They are correct in criticizing some of the offensive play of Smart but are wrong in pinpointing Smart as the problem. The reason is the lack of offensive options on this team which is forcing Smart to do more than he is individually best served doing.

They should be criticizing the roster construction - not Smart.

I do not see Ainge falling into the same trap. He has never been a reactionary GM. So my expectation is that Ainge views Smart as valuable as he always has (and as disposable / tradable as he always has). That nothing has changed for Ainge in how he views Smart's play.

Smart is probably our most valuable trade asset once you take the Js off the table. That's more likely to be his undoing in BOS rather than any judgment by Danny that his time has passed. As Steve Bulpett tweeted today:

Celtic fans who get frustrated with Marcus Smart's game (shot selection, timing of shots) would probably be stunned to know how many teams covet him... In the last few days, I've spoken to good teams who want his energy and bad teams who want him to help establish a culture.

[Muzzy66]

I’m ready.  Honestly, I would have traded him for Clint Capela when he was available.

I agree 100%

The reason is the lack of offensive options on this team which is forcing Smart to do more than he is individually best served doing.

They should be criticizing the roster construction - not Smart.

I agree that the lack of offensive options is one of the team's biggest issues. 

I absolutely do NOT agree that this is the reason for Smart playing so forcefully on the offensive end.  Because this is not something new for Smart.  He's been this way for years now - it doesn't matter who else is on the court, Smart seems utterly incapable of playing Smart (pun not intended) basketball. 

I honestly feel that Smart's personality is what defines him as a player.  He's a guy who's play is motivated 100% by emotion/heart and 0% by logic/head.  That's both his biggest strength and his biggest weakness. 

* It's his biggest strength because that emotion is what fuels his hustle, his work ethic, his defensive intensity and his desire to win.   
* It's his biggest weakness because the impulsive style of play is what leads to the myriad of unforced turnovers and horrible shots

Smart has been in the league long enough now that it's pretty safe to say that this just is who he is.  I'm definitely not hating on him, because there is definitely immense value in a guy like Smart in the right scenario.  I think the right scenario is a place like maybe the Lakers, or the Bucks, or the Sixers - a team that has a stable and well established championship caliber roster that just needs that extra game changer to put them over the edge.  I don't think the right scenario is a team like the Celtics, with so much youth and on-court volatility.

I appreciate Smart in a big way, but I just don't think it's the right time and place for him here.  His contract is winding down, and I'm not totally convinced his future is going to be with the Celtics...so if you can get something for him right now that could improve the team both now and in the long term then you may as well go for it.

[Rhyso]

Disagree, and he's not getting traded for Evan Fournier (expiring) or Aaron Gordon.

He's a playoff experienced, 2x 1st All Defense, 27yo leader, who defends multiple positions.

He hasn't long been back from missing significant time, and the team hasn't had much consistency with player availability.

If anyone is getting traded it's Theis/Thompson.

[Muzzy66]

Disagree, and he's not getting traded for Evan Fournier (expiring) or Aaron Gordon.

He's a playoff experienced, 2x 1st All Defense, 27yo leader, who defends multiple positions.

He hasn't long been back from missing significant time, and the team hasn't had much consistency with player availability.

If anyone is getting traded it's Theis/Thompson.

I bet you a TP hat you're wrong, and that if the trade does happen it's Smart that goes out.

[Celtics2021]

Disagree, and he's not getting traded for Evan Fournier (expiring) or Aaron Gordon.

He's a playoff experienced, 2x 1st All Defense, 27yo leader, who defends multiple positions.

He hasn't long been back from missing significant time, and the team hasn't had much consistency with player availability.

If anyone is getting traded it's Theis/Thompson.

I bet you a TP hat you're wrong, and that if the trade does happen it's Smart that goes out.

Ooh, can I get in on this TP bet?  Smart is not getting traded in an Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier deal.

[Rhyso]

Disagree, and he's not getting traded for Evan Fournier (expiring) or Aaron Gordon.

He's a playoff experienced, 2x 1st All Defense, 27yo leader, who defends multiple positions.

He hasn't long been back from missing significant time, and the team hasn't had much consistency with player availability.

If anyone is getting traded it's Theis/Thompson.

I bet you a TP hat you're wrong, and that if the trade does happen it's Smart that goes out.

Sure, so the bet is for Smart being traded or not? I'll happily put 20 TP's down that Smart won't get traded for Fourier + Gordon or either of them.

[Kuberski33]

I don't know.   I think Smart's name is being thrown around a lot by the other teams that either want him or want to get other teams to offer more.

Maybe all of that has sunk into my head.  It just doesn't look or feel the same to me.

He doesn't bring it every night like he did when he was younger. Used to be no matter the opponent, you'd get that attitude and in your face defense but it doesn't happen as often. I just think it's a byproduct of his getting older.

Now would be a good time to move him because other teams are still seeing the younger Marcus.  But I think it's physically impossible for him to be that guy every night at this stage of his career.  And to pay him $4 or $5 million more per season on his next contract?  No way.

That all said, when the games really count, I would look for the Marcus Smart we all know and appreciate to show up a lot more often.

[Celtics2021]

I don't know.   I think Smart's name is being thrown around a lot by the other teams that either want him or want to get other teams to offer more.

Maybe all of that has sunk into my head.  It just doesn't look or feel the same to me.

He doesn't bring it every night like he did when he was younger. Used to be no matter the opponent, you'd get that attitude and in your face defense but it doesn't happen as often. I just think it's a byproduct of his getting older.

Now would be a good time to move him because other teams are still seeing the younger Marcus.  But I think it's physically impossible for him to be that guy every night at this stage of his career.  And to pay him $4 or $5 million more per season on his next contract?  No way.

That all said, when the games really count, I would look for the Marcus Smart we all know and appreciate to show up a lot more often.

I think there’s something else going on too:

“You know a lot of things have happened in our lives, personally, individually, where it’s hard to come in here and give that energy to somebody else when in your own individual personal life, energy has been drained or you don’t really have it. We got to find a way to pick each other when that energy is down from that standpoint, because it shows.”

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/03/marcus-smart-believes-celtics-personal-burdens-have-impacted-the-teams-energy-in-games-everybody-forgets-were-humans.html?outputType=amp

[Muzzy66]

Disagree, and he's not getting traded for Evan Fournier (expiring) or Aaron Gordon.

He's a playoff experienced, 2x 1st All Defense, 27yo leader, who defends multiple positions.

He hasn't long been back from missing significant time, and the team hasn't had much consistency with player availability.

If anyone is getting traded it's Theis/Thompson.

I bet you a TP hat you're wrong, and that if the trade does happen it's Smart that goes out.

Ooh, can I get in on this TP bet?  Smart is not getting traded in an Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier deal.

We'll see...

Question - what makes you so confident Smart wouldn't be traded in this deal?

Taking in to consideration that:
1. Boston is almost certainly much better with Gordon + Fournier then it is with just Smart
2. Danny seems not nearly as fixated on Smart as others here (Smart was frustrated that he didn't get his last extension till the very last minute)
3. Orlando is desperate for an upgrade at the starting PG spot
4. Boston has silly amounts of redundancy at the PG spot (Kemba, Edwards, Teague, Pritchard, Waters, Smart) so they can afford the loss
5. Literally EVERY single report about the trade discussion cites Smart as the most likely piece going out in the deal

[Jiri Welsch]

We'll see...

Question - what makes you so confident Smart wouldn't be traded in this deal?

Taking in to consideration that:
1. Boston is almost certainly much better with Gordon + Fournier then it is with just Smart
2. Danny seems not nearly as fixated on Smart as others here (Smart was frustrated that he didn't get his last extension till the very last minute)
3. Orlando is desperate for an upgrade at the starting PG spot
4. Boston has silly amounts of redundancy at the PG spot (Kemba, Edwards, Teague, Pritchard, Waters, Smart) so they can afford the loss
5. Literally EVERY single report about the trade discussion cites Smart as the most likely piece going out in the deal

Reports that come out 2 or 3 days before the deadline are being leaked by some team. It's safe to assume the leaks happen because they're perceived as being beneficial to that particular team. Clearly, floating Smart's name out there doesn't benefit Boston at this point. So it stands to reason that these other teams are using Smart's name as leverage in trade negotiations.

It's not unreasonable at all to think Smart would only be traded when part of a package for an All-Star caliber player.

[Celtics4ever]

Boston has silly amounts of redundancy at the PG spot (Kemba, Edwards, Teague, Pritchard, Waters, Smart) so they can afford the loss

How many of those do you really trust?   I am just saying, do you think that Waters and Edwards could step up and suddenly become solid NBA rotation players?

Do folks really think Smart is the problem?

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/celtics-record-without-grant-williams-2021  6-2

I think it is the mediocre bench players more than Smart.   Using Grant as an example.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/celtics-record-without-marcus-smart-2021  10-9

Trouble is Smart is one of the few that we feel is expendable  that has some value.   You could not get a bag of beans for some of our other guys off the bench.

[Ogaju]

Boston has silly amounts of redundancy at the PG spot (Kemba, Edwards, Teague, Pritchard, Waters, Smart) so they can afford the loss

How many of those do you really trust?   I am just saying, do you think that Waters and Edwards could step up and suddenly become solid NBA rotation players?

Do folks really think Smart is the problem?

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/celtics-record-without-grant-williams-2021  6-2

I think it is the mediocre bench players more than Smart.   Using Grant as an example.

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/celtics-record-without-marcus-smart-2021  10-9

Trouble is Smart is one of the few that we feel is expendable  that has some value.   You could not get a bag of beans for some of our other guys off the bench.

what about a butter dispenser for popcorn at TD Garden?