Marcus Smart RFA [Merged - finalizing 4 year deal]

[knuckleballer]

If you're Danny, as a sign of good will would you offer Marcus something like a 1 year $8 million deal, with a second year player option?

There's no real necessity to do something like that, but it's a sign of good will in hopes of keeping Smart happy (while still staying below the tax line).  It's essentially a gift of $2 million to ensure that Smart doesn't sign a higher tender with another team.

Absolutely, that's definitely a good idea.

[bellerephon]

There's no need to offer more money in search of good will. I think this is posturing by Smart's camp to try to get the Celts to offer more. The market hasn't shaped up the way his side hoped and it seems like it will work to the Celts benefit. If he takes the QO that's good for the Celts and then they can deal with an extension next year.

[Roy H.]

The market hasn't shaped up the way his side hoped and it seems like it will work to the Celts benefit.

It looks like it will, for this year.

Long term, I'm not sure that it will.  I see it a lot like salary arbitration in MLB.  That stuff can lead to hurt feelings that last.  Marcus is probably particularly vulnerable to that, because 1) he runs high emotionally as a base line, and 2) he's dealing with his mother's cancer, which leaves most people emotionally raw.

If there's any way to mitigate hurt feelings, I'd explore it.

[jambr380]

The market hasn't shaped up the way his side hoped and it seems like it will work to the Celts benefit.

It looks like it will, for this year.

Long term, I'm not sure that it will.  I see it a lot like salary arbitration in MLB.  That stuff can lead to hurt feelings that last.  Marcus is probably particularly vulnerable to that, because 1) he runs high emotionally as a base line, and 2) he's dealing with his mother's cancer, which leaves most people emotionally raw.

If there's any way to mitigate hurt feelings, I'd explore it.

If it 'guaranteed' his return next year, then yeah, obviously; however, I would guess that he will probably take the most money offered next year whether it is from the Cs or another team.

It might be nice to give him that extra $2M, but I would prefer to sign another vet minimum player and hang on to Bird with that money. Smart is going to be upset if he doesn't get a big deal this offseason, regardless.

Also - and this certainly doesn't benefit Smart - by signing Bird and a vet min player, you add more quality to the roster which may cut into Smart's minutes possibly making him even more affordable next year. It really is a win-win for the Cs.

[trickybilly]

Bulpett's article this morning says the C's offered Smart more than $11M per for 4 years and it was turned down.  So, the crying/whining from Smart is bull.

Pretty sure someday he's going to regret turning down $44M, if that is indeed the case.

He could just as easily never make half of that in his lifetime.

So dangerous. He could be diagnosed with something awful tomorrow and not even get another contract.

I would eat my ears for 44million...

[Roy H.]

The market hasn't shaped up the way his side hoped and it seems like it will work to the Celts benefit.

It looks like it will, for this year.

Long term, I'm not sure that it will.  I see it a lot like salary arbitration in MLB.  That stuff can lead to hurt feelings that last.  Marcus is probably particularly vulnerable to that, because 1) he runs high emotionally as a base line, and 2) he's dealing with his mother's cancer, which leaves most people emotionally raw.

If there's any way to mitigate hurt feelings, I'd explore it.

If it 'guaranteed' his return next year, then yeah, obviously; however, I would guess that he will probably take the most money offered next year whether it is from the Cs or another team.

It might be nice to give him that extra $2M, but I would prefer to sign another vet minimum player and hang on to Bird with that money. Smart is going to be upset if he doesn't get a big deal this offseason, regardless.

Also - and this certainly doesn't benefit Smart - by signing Bird and a vet min player, you add more quality to the roster which may cut into Smart's minutes possibly making him even more affordable next year. It really is a win-win for the Cs.

Signing Smart gets us to 15 players. Waiving and stretching Nader gets us one roster spot. We would have enough room under the luxury tax for a minimum contract.

[CelticSooner]

If you're Danny, as a sign of good will would you offer Marcus something like a 1 year $8 million deal, with a second year player option?

There's no real necessity to do something like that, but it's a sign of good will in hopes of keeping Smart happy (while still staying below the tax line).  It's essentially a gift of $2 million to ensure that Smart doesn't sign a higher tender with another team.

I think he’d rather do that then lose the ability to trade him if he takes the QO.

The more I look at this the more it comes off as having questionable representation. This is the same agent that represented Noel (who he fired)who turned down $70 million and was forced to take a minimum deal this summer. This agent doesn’t exactly have the greatest NBA clientele, almost all role players.

[Fred Roberts]

4/44 is a perfect deal for Smart. If accurate, he should have nabbed it and worried about getting better before the next contract. Even Steph Curry took a deal like that to ensure he made good money while he figured out if his body would hold up. Marcus needs to figure out if he can round out his game with better shot making.

[Tr1boy]

If you're Danny, as a sign of good will would you offer Marcus something like a 1 year $8 million deal, with a second year player option?

There's no real necessity to do something like that, but it's a sign of good will in hopes of keeping Smart happy (while still staying below the tax line).  It's essentially a gift of $2 million to ensure that Smart doesn't sign a higher tender with another team.

yes but Danny needs to contact Smart (I believe this rumor vs that talks are going smooth)

The urge/fear of losing Smart doesn't seem like is there

So I can understand why Smart and camp is upset about this

at the end of the day if Danny doesn't press.... I'm assuming the only deal on the table is the QO

Smart either takes this and bets on himself for a higher pay next offseason....or agent asks for previous offer (shoot a bit higher) made during last season  (7-8 million per season - assumption)

The longer this drags on + no real offers from other teams...the worst this becomes for Smart

[Eja117]

It seems like either the Celts don't think Smart is worth much or they want to sign him to something small for some reason (easier to trade him for a draft pick?) or they want to make some example to the other players of the risks of not signing extensions when offered. Or they think Rozier is about to seriously surpass him and there's not lots of reason to bring him back. Maybe they think a 6ft 4 Brad Wannamaker at 800K is a way better deal.

Maybe some combo of this.

[KGs Knee]

My guess is Danny is perfectly comfortable waiting until all potential teams with cap space have exhausted their funds, at which point Danny will approach Smart with a low ball offer (basically MLE money). Smart will then be forced to choose between that or the QO. 

I'm betting Smart takes the QO.

[bogg]

The more I look at this the more it comes off as having questionable representation. This is the same agent that represented Noel (who he fired)who turned down $70 million and was forced to take a minimum deal this summer. This agent doesn’t exactly have the greatest NBA clientele, almost all role players.

Wasn't there some uncertainty about who exactly advised Noel to turn down that deal? He switched representation to Klutch that summer, and I seem to remember some internet sniping between Noel's former agent and Rich Paul over the declined extension. I was left with the impression that Noel's former agent actually wanted him to sign that $70 million deal and Noel switched to Klutch looking for something in excess of $20 million a year (which obviously never materialized) rather than what was, at the time, Timo Mozgov money.

Then again, I also don't have access to the specifics and may be misremembering.

[saltlover]

The more I look at this the more it comes off as having questionable representation. This is the same agent that represented Noel (who he fired)who turned down $70 million and was forced to take a minimum deal this summer. This agent doesn’t exactly have the greatest NBA clientele, almost all role players.

Wasn't there some uncertainty about who exactly advised Noel to turn down that deal? He switched representation to Klutch that summer, and I seem to remember some internet sniping between Noel's former agent and Rich Paul over the declined extension. I was left with the impression that Noel's former agent actually wanted him to sign that $70 million deal and Noel switched to Klutch looking for something in excess of $20 million a year (which obviously never materialized) rather than what was, at the time, Timo Mozgov money.

Then again, I also don't have access to the specifics and may be misremembering.

There was sniping by Happy Walters, but Noel signed his QO 5 days after switching agents, and that reported offer (reported by his agent himself) was off the table long before the switch.  I assume it was someone in Noel’s camp that nixed the deal, and not another agent. If Noel turned down that deal because Rich Paul told him to do so while still being represented by Walters, that might have ended up in court over the lost commission.

[RJ87]

It seems like either the Celts don't think Smart is worth much or they want to sign him to something small for some reason (easier to trade him for a draft pick?) or they want to make some example to the other players of the risks of not signing extensions when offered. Or they think Rozier is about to seriously surpass him and there's not lots of reason to bring him back. Maybe they think a 6ft 4 Brad Wannamaker at 800K is a way better deal.

Maybe some combo of this.

Or they're simply allowing the market to dictate his value. Nothing wrong with that. If no other team is willing to sign him for more than $9m per, why should we pay significantly more?

[Scintan]

The market hasn't shaped up the way his side hoped and it seems like it will work to the Celts benefit.

It looks like it will, for this year.

Long term, I'm not sure that it will.  I see it a lot like salary arbitration in MLB.  That stuff can lead to hurt feelings that last.  Marcus is probably particularly vulnerable to that, because 1) he runs high emotionally as a base line, and 2) he's dealing with his mother's cancer, which leaves most people emotionally raw.

If there's any way to mitigate hurt feelings, I'd explore it.

Where was Smart's good will when he reportedly passed on an offer of $11m per?

I'm generally pro-player when it comes to guys getting their money, but players don't take less money to generate good will from their teams, so why should the team do it in the other direction?  Marcus isn't going to fight with the team, settle on a contract, and then say "OK, now, for the sake of good will, let's take a million dollars per season off what we just agreed upon".