Smart - the Key to the IT/Irving Deal?

[Granath]

The one thing rarely mentioned in the Irving / IT deal is now we now have the opportunity to resign Marcus Smart. Prior to the deal being done it was going to be either IT or Smart leaving next year. That was a foregone conclusion barring a trade and it was a safe assumption that Marcus would be hitting the FA market. Now that the deal has been done, I expect Danny to quickly move to extend Marcus (assuming he can within the cap rules). Smart should pare very well with Irving. It's easier for the 6'3" Irving and 6'4" Smart to existing in the same back court (and the 6'7" Jaylen Brown) than it was with IT. It's easier to hide Irving's defensive liabilities while not missing a beat on offense.

We all know that if Marcus can learn to shoot he'd be an exceptionally valuable piece for any Championship team. Whether that happens or not is anyone's guess and I'm offering no prediction on how that will turn out. But IF he does then one of the biggest and most positive consequences of this deal will be the ability to retain Smart.

[SHAQATTACK]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small imrovement for both guys.

[Granath]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small imrovement for both guys.

It's easier than trying to teach IT to grow.   

[Jon]

Well, at the very least, this trade makes me think that Ainge has to have some confidence in Smart, Brown, and/or Tatum to pick up the rest of the gap needed to win a title.

[Granath]

I still think Smart is one of the Keys to the IT/Irving deal. This deal should allow us to resign Marcus and if he ends up learning to shoot he's going to be a keeper. I could see us in the coming years rolling out a lineup where Smart is the PG, Irving is the SG, Brown is the SF and Tatum at PF. Of course, that won't be this year but perhaps it's something that we'll see in a couple of years down the road.

[Smartacus]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small imrovement for both guys.

It's easier than trying to teach IT to grow.   

 Cooold blooded, my the truth can really sting.

We'll see I'm hoping for a Smart extension but let's not forget Kyrie will be due for a raise in 2 years. I do get the impression that between Jaylen, Jayson, Smart, Lakers/Kings pick, eventually something we'll have to give. I could also see Rozier getting a contract like Bradley's first extension which could make Smart expendable.

[Fafnir]

I think Danny clearly likes Rozier and Smart a lot more than most other basketball observers. But he still traded for max salary PG who like IT will play most of the PG minutes.

[td450]

These thresholds always scare me. Smart is a middle class talent until he proves otherwise, and the best teams rarely keep those guys. The few who stick usually give up money to be on a top team. I'm not sure whether Smart will give up that much money to stay. Ainge has doggedly held onto Rozier for a reason.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small improvement for both guys.

It's easier than trying to teach IT to grow.   

Why would hell you need to? Because he can't finish at the rim? Or because most of the "superstars" in the league are also one-way players?

If Smart was 1/10th the offensive player as IT, he may be worth resigning.  Beyond his inability to shoot, he's just dumb.  He could make a living shooting corner 3s, but I don't think the thought ever crossed his mind.  Now that we've stocked up on perimeter talent and shot-creators, if he doesn't pick up on that this season, he's Ricky Davis-dumb.

[makaveli]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small improvement for both guys.

It's easier than trying to teach IT to grow.   

Why would hell you need to? Because he can't finish at the rim? Or because most of the "superstars" in the league are also one-way players?

If Smart was 1/10th the offensive player as IT, he may be worth resigning.  Beyond his inability to shoot, he's just dumb.  He could make a living shooting corner 3s, but I don't think the thought ever crossed his mind.  Now that we've stocked up on perimeter talent and shot-creators, if he doesn't pick up on that this season, he's Ricky Davis-dumb.

smart gets so much hate...
he's my favorite celtic since paul pierce, the kid wins games on hustle and heart like no other player in the league

[wiley]

every summer people's brains forget what Smart brings.  In a few months
all but one or two of you will remember that you don't care that
shooting is his weakness. 

[tarheelsxxiii]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small improvement for both guys.

It's easier than trying to teach IT to grow.   

Why would hell you need to? Because he can't finish at the rim? Or because most of the "superstars" in the league are also one-way players?

If Smart was 1/10th the offensive player as IT, he may be worth resigning.  Beyond his inability to shoot, he's just dumb.  He could make a living shooting corner 3s, but I don't think the thought ever crossed his mind.  Now that we've stocked up on perimeter talent and shot-creators, if he doesn't pick up on that this season, he's Ricky Davis-dumb.

smart gets so much hate...
he's my favorite celtic since paul pierce, the kid wins games on hustle and heart like no other player in the league

Am I hating, or does he make stupid decisions on offense and make the game more difficult for himself?  And is defense as valuable as offense in today's NBA? 

[jambr380]

I would love a bargain extension now somewhere in the neighborhood of $40/4yrs, but I understand that is unlikely from Smart's point of view.

I am not sure what he is likely to make on the open market. He's a young player on a rookie deal and it doesn't seem like the demand for him has been all that high. Fewer teams will have money next year and there are some marquee free agents available (as well as non-marquee ones like AB) who will be ahead of Smart for the big contracts.

If this salary cap spike has taught us anything, it's that the big name free agents are really going to cash in, while the middle class may be left out in the cold - it wasn't as apparent last year, but it showed more this year (is Aron Baynes really that much less valuable than Smart?). This especially holds true with the increase $$ amount in rookie contracts, as well.

I LOVE Smart and hope he will be with the Cs for a long time...and I think he will.

[makaveli]

Two projects

for CBS

Teach Irving defense and  Smart to shoot......

LoL......Im hopeful to a see a least a small improvement for both guys.

It's easier than trying to teach IT to grow.   

Why would hell you need to? Because he can't finish at the rim? Or because most of the "superstars" in the league are also one-way players?

If Smart was 1/10th the offensive player as IT, he may be worth resigning.  Beyond his inability to shoot, he's just dumb.  He could make a living shooting corner 3s, but I don't think the thought ever crossed his mind.  Now that we've stocked up on perimeter talent and shot-creators, if he doesn't pick up on that this season, he's Ricky Davis-dumb.

smart gets so much hate...
he's my favorite celtic since paul pierce, the kid wins games on hustle and heart like no other player in the league

Am I hating, or does he make stupid decisions on offense and make the game more difficult for himself?  And is defense as valuable as offense in today's NBA?

he is not an all star, but for a young guy, especially in boston, where for the last 5 years a high pick was never the guy as the case was in other teams, he has done phenomenally well.
sure he takes some bad shots but the guy is always there when it counts the most(read playoffs).
this year he will have a bigger role and more space to operate, plus it is his contract year. I just hope that he stays healthy, and i am sure that he will excel this year

[RJ87]

I would love a bargain extension now somewhere in the neighborhood of $40/4yrs, but I understand that is unlikely from Smart's point of view.

Is it? This offseason's restricted free agent market was bare. A lot of big name RFA's are still unsigned (Nikola Mirotic, Miles Plumlee, JaMychal Green) and then guys who did resign got lower than their projected value (Nerlens Noel taking the QO, Andre Roberson returning for less than the extension he turned down last offseason).

I think there'll be incentive on both sides to get it done.