Celtics show trade interest in Jeff Green, Jalen Smith, doing ‘due diligence’ on several players (report)
Updated: Jan. 12, 2022, 10:11 a.m. | Published: Jan. 12, 2022, 10:11 a.m. Mass Live
While I like Smith it doesn't make much sense either because if he does well he will be gone for a higher salary then The C's can offer.
Smith, a former lottery pick is a more intriguing name due to his youth. However, the Suns declined a team rookie option on him before the season, which means any team he is traded to can only offer him a maximum of $4.7 million to re-sign in the offseason. Otherwise, he’s an unrestricted free agent. The Celtics would be putting themselves at risk by acquiring Smith of losing him for nothing in that scenario if he ends up having a breakout second half of the year, something he has shown flashes of in Phoenix during the last month. Weighing the risk and reward of that possibility will surely bring down what Brad Stevens and other general managers around the league are willing to offer for the 6-foot-10 big man.