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.
That is just generic speculation, and you could use that exact same speculation in response to ANY trade rumour ever made. I'm not sure how it does anything to reduce the likelihood of Smart being included in this deal.
It's not unreasonable at all to think Smart would only be traded when part of a package for an All-Star caliber player.
Why is that not unreasonable?
Marcus Smart has one elite level skill and that's defense. He has a second above-average skill and that's play-making. He has some added intangibles because of his personality / passion. But beyond those factors he's average or below-average at
absolutely everything. He's not a good ball handler, he's not a great rebounder, he's a mediocre finisher, he's a historically bad shooter, and he brings a high-risk / high-reward play style that loses the team as many games as it wins them.
You really think that Danny wouldn't trade the player I just described unless it's in return for an All-Star? Why, because he has "heart"? Do you not recall this is the same Danny who traded Pierce and Garnett to Brooklyn? Avery Bradley to Detroit? Rajon Rondo to Dallas? The same Danny Ainge who traded Isaiah Thomas to Cleveland after he made some of the biggest sacrifices humanly possible for the Celtics just prior?
If there is one thing we should know VERY well by now it's that when it comes to trades Danny Ainge is a businessman above all. If he thinks giving up Smart will make the team significantly better, then he'll trade him. Every. Single. Time.
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?
I trust Kemba as my starter, I trust Pritchard (already) as a backup, and I'm OK with Teague as a desperation 3rd string backup. That's good enough for me.
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.
I don't think Smart is the problem, no. But I do think he contributes to it at times.
More importantly though, I think the team desperately needs to add more scoring and depth, and I think that (as you said) out of all the guys on the roster who have some semblance of value Smart is the most expendable.
* We cannot afford to lose a key scorer (unless we bring back a better one) so Kemba is a no-go
* Tatum and Brown are too critical to the team both now and in the future
* Robert Williams and Pritchard are productive, have upside, and are on bargain contracts so they make no sense to trade
* I don't like the idea of moving TT because I don't like giving up the frontcourt depth (Theis is too inconsistent and Williams still needs time)
Hence it kinda comes down to Smart.
If the Celtic's issues could be fixed to a large degree WITHOUT giving up Smart then I would be all for it. But I don't see any scenario on the horizon right now in which that happens...so I think sending Smart out pretty much a necessity if Danny is going to even begin to fix these issues.
Topic: It Sure Feels Like Smart Is Done Here (Read 9587 times)