Marcus Smart RFA [Merged - finalizing 4 year deal]

[Big333223]

I've said this before but I think a long term contract for Smart could help him a lot.

Generally, playing for a new contract gives players motivation and they do better. But Smart is unique. He doesn't need more motivation. He has the opposite problem where he often gets too intense and that's when he makes a lot of mistakes. Maybe a long term deal will give him a sense of comfort that won't diminish his drive but calm him to where he doesn't make so many of the frustrating mistake and loosen him up so his shooting improves to, like, mediocre.

That's my hope.

[hodgy03038]

I am starting to wonder why we haven't signed Marcus yet. I am not sure of timing of signings and how that works but is it possible he is not signed yet because he is on the table to the Spurs in a Kawhi deal (sign and trade) but the numbers and deal is not final until they can get all of the numbers and assets to work?

[saltlover]

I am starting to wonder why we haven't signed Marcus yet. I am not sure of timing of signings and how that works but is it possible he is not signed yet because he is on the table to the Spurs in a Kawhi deal (sign and trade) but the numbers and deal is not final until they can get all of the numbers and assets to work?

Players can’t sign officially until noon tomorrow.  Accordingly, if another team had interest in signing Smart, the clock on the Celtics matching or not wouldn’t start until noon tomorrow, even if he agreed to something on July 1st, so teams wouldn’t offer him anything.  While this is primarily why he’s not gotten an offer, it’s also a reason for his side to wait, in case the market moves for him once July 6th comes around.  I would have been very surprised if he agreed to a deal early (happy, but surprised).

[hodgy03038]

I am starting to wonder why we haven't signed Marcus yet. I am not sure of timing of signings and how that works but is it possible he is not signed yet because he is on the table to the Spurs in a Kawhi deal (sign and trade) but the numbers and deal is not final until they can get all of the numbers and assets to work?

Players can’t sign officially until noon tomorrow.  Accordingly, if another team had interest in signing Smart, the clock on the Celtics matching or not wouldn’t start until noon tomorrow, even if he agreed to something on July 1st, so teams wouldn’t offer him anything.  While this is primarily why he’s not gotten an offer, it’s also a reason for his side to wait, in case the market moves for him once July 6th comes around.  I would have been very surprised if he agreed to a deal early (happy, but surprised).

Thank you Mr. Salt. TP

[tstorey_97]

Tatum
Smart
Morris
Rozier

Celtic's bench....are you kidding me? They've all started a lot of playoff games and that's the bench.

(Yes, Baynes gets the first whatever minutes so Tatum comes off the bench...it'll be all right, calm down he'll still log more minutes than anyone on the team this season)

[SHAQATTACK]

ive given the green light to Danny to resign him. 

[Monkhouse]

One thing that people are seriously underrating is how much of an improved passer Smart has become. With the Celtics becoming Lob City 2.0, JB, Theis, Horford, Williams, Tatum, and a few others are going to feast on the easy lobs that Smart can just chuck out of nowhere. I can't wait to see him and Williams do well and mesh in terms of chemistry on 1st/2nd units.

[johnnygreen]

Would it make sense for the Celtics and Marcus to do a 4 year $44M deal, with year four being a player option? I know he thinks he's worth $14M per year, but I'm also not aware of any offers to date. I'm not certain if he could get that ($14M/year) next year when more teams will supposedly have the cap space.

Assuming he signs a $44M deal, he would hypothetically make $11M in year one, and cummulatively have made $22M by year two, $33M by year three, and $44M by year four.

Now let's assume he signs the qualifying offer and gets a 3 year $42M deal next season. He would hypothetically make $6M this season, and cummulatively have made $20M by year two, $34M by year three, and $48M by year four.

After three years, that would only be a $1M difference, which could serve almost as an insurance policy. If he improves his shooting and maintains a high level of defense, then he could opt out and certainly make that $14M salary. I like it for the Celtics too, as not only would we still have Marcus but Danny also has the option of having a $11M salary player to include in trade talks, which is something the Celtics need.

[saltlover]

My hope is that the Celtics and Smart end up at an approximately 5/$52 million deal.  They could agree to this and stay under the tax by stretching/trading Nader.   It might be enough to keep Marcus with — if he accepted his qualifying offer he’d need to get 4 years/$46 million in free agency to make up the difference, with year one starting around $10.7 million.  He could get that, but there’s no guarantee.

That’s the figure I’m targeting — we’ll see where it comes out.

[tarheelsxxiii]

My hope is that the Celtics and Smart end up at an approximately 5/$52 million deal.  They could agree to this and stay under the tax by stretching/trading Nader.   It might be enough to keep Marcus with — if he accepted his qualifying offer he’d need to get 4 years/$46 million in free agency to make up the difference, with year one starting around $10.7 million.  He could get that, but there’s no guarantee.

That’s the figure I’m targeting — we’ll see where it comes out.

How's that? I was at ~8 mil under the tax after renouncing Gibson, Larkin, Monroe, and then stretching Nader.

[saltlover]

My hope is that the Celtics and Smart end up at an approximately 5/$52 million deal.  They could agree to this and stay under the tax by stretching/trading Nader.   It might be enough to keep Marcus with — if he accepted his qualifying offer he’d need to get 4 years/$46 million in free agency to make up the difference, with year one starting around $10.7 million.  He could get that, but there’s no guarantee.

That’s the figure I’m targeting — we’ll see where it comes out.

How's that? I was at ~8 mil under the tax after renouncing Gibson, Larkin, Monroe, and then stretching Nader.

I don’t know.  I’m at $8.94 million after doing all that, which over 5 years gets you to $51.8 million or so.  Do you have Bird in your calculations?  I decided I was willing to sacrifice Jabari if it meant a 5-year deal for Marcus.

[The Oracle]

Hey Saltlover.  What are your thoughts on an unlikely bonus being included in Smart's contract? 

[saltlover]

Hey Saltlover.  What are your thoughts on an unlikely bonus being included in Smart's contract?

Living up to your username, you correctly divined that I have thought about it.  In general I’m not a fan of giving bonuses that you’re kind of hoping a player won’t reach, since if he does reach them then you’re in the luxury tax.  It’d certainly be permissible — I just don’t think it’s a good practice.

[Snakehead]

One thing that people are seriously underrating is how much of an improved passer Smart has become. With the Celtics becoming Lob City 2.0, JB, Theis, Horford, Williams, Tatum, and a few others are going to feast on the easy lobs that Smart can just chuck out of nowhere. I can't wait to see him and Williams do well and mesh in terms of chemistry on 1st/2nd units.

Also you really can use a guy like that with all these mouths to feed.  Not that he can't jack some shots himself but mostly he is very willing and like you say there will be even more lob potential.

[Celtics4ever]

Ainge is letting him find out what he is worth and will sign him for less than he wants, I bet.