The Marcus Smart Question

[Ogaju]

Smart is going to get paid. Cs had him cheap the last three years.

[liam]

I'd draft Marcus Garrett this year as Smart insurance. He's also a special defensive player. You have to have a Marcus playing D on the Celtics!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1CepNUbU0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scmB3MB6Ku8

[Big333223]

I love Smart, and love what he brings, especially in relation to what the other core players bring. I want him around if at all possible - though maybe not for more than $20 mil a year.

[Celtics4ever]

It is definitely a conundrum.   I don't think that we will resign him sadly.   There has been a few times when he has argued with the stars according to Washburn and that is never a good recipe for success or longevity.

He used to be heart and soul of our team but this team this year lacks both heart and soul.   I am not saying that is on Marcus just observing that the infectious ability on D is not there this year.

If the team brings back Fournier, then I think they will trade Smart.  There is no reason to have 2 bench wings making pretty darn good money on the team.

Agreed.

2. Smart on a one year deal has a lot of value for a team looking to make a deep playoff run right now; he has much less value for a team that is in the position of having to figure out a core rotation for the near-term.  The Celts are closer to the latter than the former, in my opinion

Spot on.

[gouki88]

I think it makes sense to trade him to be honest. There are a bunch of teams who would be interested, but I find his skillset not too difficult to replace. Not that defenders like him grow on trees, but I think we could find another elite defensive guard. He'd be less elite than Marcus, but I bet he'd shoot better

[Kiorrik]

I think it makes sense to trade him to be honest. There are a bunch of teams who would be interested, but I find his skillset not too difficult to replace. Not that defenders like him grow on trees, but I think we could find another elite defensive guard. He'd be less elite than Marcus, but I bet he'd shoot better

I see your point; but Smart is exactly the kinda guy I'd see on the bench of a championship team. And I'd keep him around even if just for the tenacity he brings to a team.

Also, I don't think we'll get a good return on him.

[gouki88]

I think it makes sense to trade him to be honest. There are a bunch of teams who would be interested, but I find his skillset not too difficult to replace. Not that defenders like him grow on trees, but I think we could find another elite defensive guard. He'd be less elite than Marcus, but I bet he'd shoot better

I see your point; but Smart is exactly the kinda guy I'd see on the bench of a championship team. And I'd keep him around even if just for the tenacity he brings to a team.

Also, I don't think we'll get a good return on him.

He would be the perfect bench guy, I agree. But I expect him to demand $20m or so annually, and that's unacceptable. Deal him now while we can actually get a return

[hwangjini_1]

I'd draft Marcus Garrett this year as Smart insurance. He's also a special defensive player. You have to have a Marcus playing D on the Celtics!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1CepNUbU0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scmB3MB6Ku8

he might very well in available in the second round. he is a senior this year, yes? his defense may be special, which is good, but his offense is not impressive.

He averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 27.4 minutes per game with 80 starts. he shot 30% over his career from 3 point range, though his senior year was his best at 34.8%

His FT% was 80.8% in his senior year. good. But in the 3 years prior to that he never had a FT% over 61%, and as a freshman it was 49% which is really awful.

The final couple of points means he MIGHT have discovered how to shoot. maybe. that is something i am sure ainge and every GM will look at carefully.

[gouki88]

I'd draft Marcus Garrett this year as Smart insurance. He's also a special defensive player. You have to have a Marcus playing D on the Celtics!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1CepNUbU0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scmB3MB6Ku8

he might very well in available in the second round. he is a senior this year, yes? his defense may be special, which is good, but his offense is not impressive.

He averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 27.4 minutes per game with 80 starts.

Jaden Springer is a much more preferable Marcus Smart replacement. Still 18 years old, averaged 12.5PPG as a freshman on 47/44/81 shooting splits and has been compared to Marcus Smart in scouting reports.

[liam]

I'd draft Marcus Garrett this year as Smart insurance. He's also a special defensive player. You have to have a Marcus playing D on the Celtics!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1CepNUbU0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scmB3MB6Ku8

he might very well in available in the second round. he is a senior this year, yes? his defense may be special, which is good, but his offense is not impressive.

He averaged 7.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 27.4 minutes per game with 80 starts.

Senior year 13 points, 4.4 rbs, 3.7 assists ( 5.8 last year), 34% on 3s, 80% FT, 50% eFG%. Not great numbers by any means but those stats don't tell the whole story. He's a menace on defense. Like Smart the numbers don't tell the whole story to his game.  a 6'5" point guard that can guard 3-4 positions on the floor.

[Muzzy66]

Marcus is an expiring contract next year. What should we do with him?

The options seem to be:

1.  Keep him long-term. I assume that he will get a contract somewhere between $18 million and $25 million per year.

2.  Let him hit free agency, with the intention of letting him walk and replacing him with Fournier.

3.  Trade him in the off-season. If we’re not going to keep him, we get value and give his replacement time to work into the rotation.

4.  Trade him at next year’s deadline.  Plenty of contenders would love to have him, even if it is on a three month rental.

I would trade him ASAP. 

I appreciate his energy and his toughness, but I also feel that shot selection and unforced turnovers / recklessness are the two biggest issues for the team right now, and of all the guys on the team who are most prone to those issues Smart is the most disposable.

There is also no way in hell I'd pay $18M a year for a guy as limited and one-dimensional as Smart is.  He's a defensive specialist with decent play-making ability and that's really about all he brings.   I don't think replacing what he brings (or at least most of it) is actually that hard. 

Finally if you're going to move him at some point, then you want to do it now.  The team is unlikely a serious title contender this year so it snot like his presence will be the difference between a banner or no banner...and moving him while he still has value is logical.  If you want until he becomes an expiring contract / rental then the market becomes significantly smaller and you're far less likely to get a quality return.

[nickagneta]

Marcus is an expiring contract next year. What should we do with him?

The options seem to be:

1.  Keep him long-term. I assume that he will get a contract somewhere between $18 million and $25 million per year.

2.  Let him hit free agency, with the intention of letting him walk and replacing him with Fournier.

3.  Trade him in the off-season. If we’re not going to keep him, we get value and give his replacement time to work into the rotation.

4.  Trade him at next year’s deadline.  Plenty of contenders would love to have him, even if it is on a three month rental.

I would trade him ASAP. 

I appreciate his energy and his toughness, but I also feel that shot selection and unforced turnovers / recklessness are the two biggest issues for the team right now, and of all the guys on the team who are most prone to those issues Smart is the most disposable.

There is also no way in hell I'd pay $18M a year for a guy as limited and one-dimensional as Smart is.  He's a defensive specialist with decent play-making ability and that's really about all he brings.   I don't think replacing what he brings (or at least most of it) is actually that hard. 

Finally if you're going to move him at some point, then you want to do it now.  The team is unlikely a serious title contender this year so it snot like his presence will be the difference between a banner or no banner...and moving him while he still has value is logical.  If you want until he becomes an expiring contract / rental then the market becomes significantly smaller and you're far less likely to get a quality return.

You can't trade Smart until the off-season. The trade deadline date for making trades expired a month ago.

[Muzzy66]

Marcus is an expiring contract next year. What should we do with him?

The options seem to be:

1.  Keep him long-term. I assume that he will get a contract somewhere between $18 million and $25 million per year.

2.  Let him hit free agency, with the intention of letting him walk and replacing him with Fournier.

3.  Trade him in the off-season. If we’re not going to keep him, we get value and give his replacement time to work into the rotation.

4.  Trade him at next year’s deadline.  Plenty of contenders would love to have him, even if it is on a three month rental.

I would trade him ASAP. 

I appreciate his energy and his toughness, but I also feel that shot selection and unforced turnovers / recklessness are the two biggest issues for the team right now, and of all the guys on the team who are most prone to those issues Smart is the most disposable.

There is also no way in hell I'd pay $18M a year for a guy as limited and one-dimensional as Smart is.  He's a defensive specialist with decent play-making ability and that's really about all he brings.   I don't think replacing what he brings (or at least most of it) is actually that hard. 

Finally if you're going to move him at some point, then you want to do it now.  The team is unlikely a serious title contender this year so it snot like his presence will be the difference between a banner or no banner...and moving him while he still has value is logical.  If you want until he becomes an expiring contract / rental then the market becomes significantly smaller and you're far less likely to get a quality return.

You can't trade Smart until the off-season. The trade deadline date for making trades expired a month ago.

Sorry my bad - expressed myself poorly.

When I said "you want to do it now" I meant as soon as you possibly can (rather than holding on to him unnecessarily so his trade value drops).

[nickagneta]

Marcus is an expiring contract next year. What should we do with him?

The options seem to be:

1.  Keep him long-term. I assume that he will get a contract somewhere between $18 million and $25 million per year.

2.  Let him hit free agency, with the intention of letting him walk and replacing him with Fournier.

3.  Trade him in the off-season. If we’re not going to keep him, we get value and give his replacement time to work into the rotation.

4.  Trade him at next year’s deadline.  Plenty of contenders would love to have him, even if it is on a three month rental.

I would trade him ASAP. 

I appreciate his energy and his toughness, but I also feel that shot selection and unforced turnovers / recklessness are the two biggest issues for the team right now, and of all the guys on the team who are most prone to those issues Smart is the most disposable.

There is also no way in hell I'd pay $18M a year for a guy as limited and one-dimensional as Smart is.  He's a defensive specialist with decent play-making ability and that's really about all he brings.   I don't think replacing what he brings (or at least most of it) is actually that hard. 

Finally if you're going to move him at some point, then you want to do it now.  The team is unlikely a serious title contender this year so it snot like his presence will be the difference between a banner or no banner...and moving him while he still has value is logical.  If you want until he becomes an expiring contract / rental then the market becomes significantly smaller and you're far less likely to get a quality return.

You can't trade Smart until the off-season. The trade deadline date for making trades expired a month ago.

Sorry my bad - expressed myself poorly.

When I said "you want to do it now" I meant as soon as you possibly can (rather than holding on to him unnecessarily so his trade value drops).

Ah, I saw you said

unlikely a serious title contender this year so it snot like his presence will be the difference between a banner or no banner...and moving him while he still has value is logical.  If you want until he becomes an expiring contract / rental then the market becomes significantly smaller and you're far less likely to get a quality return.

It sure sounded like you wanted him traded before the playoffs because him not being there wouldn't make a difference if they won a title or not. That only makes sense if you meant trade him before the playoffs, which you can't do 

It also sounded like you meant trade him now because that way he's not expiring contract (when his value decreases), but he is only eligible to trade when he is an expiring contract, so that makes no sense, unless you meant trade him now, after the trade deadline.

It sure sounded like you expressed yourself well, but was just not familiar with the trading rules.

[jambr380]

Going to be hard to keep him and Kemba, especially since Marcus is probably due a pay raise. Even if it is just for one season (22-23), that season will be laughably bad as far as the tax goes w/ Rob's contract also coming up.

If we are able to trade Smart for good value (mid-low lottery pick, exciting player on rookie contract), then by all means, we should look to do that. But if we are going to trade him for the equivalent of Mo Wagner/Luke Kornet and not get any picks back, then we should just ride with Marcus until he expires. A guy like him always give you a 'chance' if you are healthy and jelling going into the playoffs.