I'd be shocked if Smart took the QO.
Ben Gordon and Greg Monroe are the only two players who have taken the QO and struck gold.
Reasons why Smart doesn't take the QO:
1. Hi playing style: which will never change, unless he's playing cautiously which is highly unlikely to happen. The more cautiously he plays. the less he's worth.
Smart's balls-to- the-wall playing style has made him susceptible to injury throughout his career. An injury during a QO year will make his stock plummet. Hard to see him chance that.
2. There are 4 teams left who can offer him more than the MLE: Philly, Hawks, Bulls and Kings. He will use them to leverage us, but will give us a hometown discount
I can see him getting 10-12 a year from us for 4 years=financial security for life.
I really fear that Philly squeezes us. I would hate to see him there. Maybe the Wilson Chandler acquisition chills Philly for us.
Bulls have Dunn and Payne and Grant and LaVine still hanging.
Hawks can offer the most.
Don't fear Sac....Smart would NEVER play for such an organization.
3. Ainge and Stevens love him as the heart and soul of the team. If push comes to shove, I see them matching up to 4 yrs/50mil or do a S&T.
Very very few players in any year play for the QO. Not only are you betting on yourself to take a big step forward, but you are also betting you wont be injured.
Smart is too smart for that.