Marcus Smart RFA [Merged - finalizing 4 year deal]

[RJ87]

New: Latest on Marcus Smart situation. A source close to Smart says he’s “over it” & prepared to sign qualifying offer if it comes to it. But league sources say the Cs’ fondness for Smart has not waned, and that Ainge will mend personal fences if needed:

https://twitter.com/adamhimmelsbach/status/1015396520798052352?s=21

My biggest takeaway from this story is that Marcus is seeking $15m-$17m annually. I love the guy's fire, but that's just an absurd about of money for a guy with no offensive game.

[MattyIce]

Wanamaker can play half the mins Smart played ... and still provide something

We really do not know that.   I worry about losing our toughness with Smart.

You really don’t need someone like Smart when you’re blowing out teams every night. The only reason Smart was so valuable was because the Celts sucked and Smart helped us get over the hump with the others misfit toys.

tell that to Harden

[Monkhouse]

Wanamaker can play half the mins Smart played ... and still provide something

We really do not know that.   I worry about losing our toughness with Smart.

You really don’t need someone like Smart when you’re blowing out teams every night. The only reason Smart was so valuable was because the Celts sucked and Smart helped us get over the hump with the others misfit toys.

 

Sure, whatever you say buddy.

[Joyride]

Wanamaker can play half the mins Smart played ... and still provide something

We really do not know that.   I worry about losing our toughness with Smart.

You really don’t need someone like Smart when you’re blowing out teams every night. The only reason Smart was so valuable was because the Celts sucked and Smart helped us get over the hump with the others misfit toys.

 

Sure, whatever you say buddy.

Just saying, if you had to pick between Rozier or Smart, I’d take Rozier.

[Kuberski33]

Smart's probably freaking out over what LaVine just got offered.

[CelticsElite]

Himmelsbach- significant interest in marcus smart around the league at a salary closer to $9 mill per year , but smart has no interest in entertaining those offerS

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2018/07/06/marcus-smart-frustrated-wait-but-celtics-have-plans-part-with-him/eksrvnRDNgvL8v3TWhO0PO/story.html

[Birdman]

Maybe Celtics dont want Smart and waiting for someone to offer him a contract and wont match it

[Surferdad]

Maybe Celtics dont want Smart and waiting for someone to offer him a contract and wont match it

I believe they already offered the QO.

[Celtics4ever]

Maybe Celtics dont want Smart and waiting for someone to offer him a contract and wont match it

They are using market forces, aka demand, to set his value and show him he is a not a huge contract guy

[mgent]

Maybe Celtics dont want Smart and waiting for someone to offer him a contract and wont match it

They are using market forces, aka demand, to set his value and show him he is a not a huge contract guy

Yup.  I remember we did that with Big Baby.  Told him to go get that much if he really thinks he can get it, and we ended up with him for dirt cheap.

[Vermont Green]

Himmelsbach- significant interest in marcus smart around the league at a salary closer to $9 mill per year , but smart has no interest in entertaining those offerS

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2018/07/06/marcus-smart-frustrated-wait-but-celtics-have-plans-part-with-him/eksrvnRDNgvL8v3TWhO0PO/story.html

This is exactly right.  The Celtics only have about $8M under the tax cap and the other teams know this.  I doubt they go into the tax to sign Smart.  A team can offer $9M and the Celtics probably won't match.  The only question is whether he will get better offers.

Four years, starting at $8M, with player opt out after two years.  I don't know what the allowable escalation is but maybe it is something like 8-9-10-11.  That is $38M guaranteed and can opt out into a better market in two years if he plays well and stays healthy.

[bellerephon]

Celts would 100% match at 9 million. I have no doubts about that. I think they would probably match offers up to 12 mill, maybe even higher.

[dreamgreen]

Celts would 100% match at 9 million. I have no doubts about that. I think they would probably match offers up to 12 mill, maybe even higher.

Crack kills! 

[bellerephon]

They are in a win now mode and they think Smart helps them win. They know they are going to pay the lux tax at some point. Avoiding the repeater tax is an issue but I think they believe keeping Smart is a priority. It does not seem like they will need to go that high, but I would not have been surprised if they went as high as 12 mil per year.

[jambr380]

If Smart is expecting LaVine money, then this is a best case for the Cs. They totally avoid the tax this year (with room to spare), can keep Bird, sign another vet min guy, get to field a championship caliber team with all of its ‘parts’, and can let the market dictate who to keep between him and Rozier next offseason (or both if Kyrie leaves - Yikes!).

Of course I would love to sign Smart at $8M/yr over 4 years, but that doesn’t look like a possibility and I am okay with that. Our depth next year will be insane!