Smartfood for Thought: What do you want to do with Marcus Smart after this year?

[BigSoxFan]

Marcus Smart is a valuable but polarizing player. He is entering the final year of his contract next year and represents one of the few movable pieces on the roster, if Danny wants to shake things up. He's had a recent stretch of costly mistakes/decisions so I think now is a good time to revisit this topic. Obviously, there's a variable we don't know, which is his league-wide value but let's assume you can get a starting-caliber player for him or other valuable pieces (i.e., young player(s) with potential and/or picks).

 

[pokey_reese]

I chose 'extend on team friendly terms or trade,' but it kind of depends on where the team is at once we reach that point. If he is a valuable (and happy) contributor on a playoff-bound team and we just couldn't reach a number that made sense for both sides, I'm fine with the 'play it out' scenario.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I chose extend at friendly terms or trade, but it's probably a little more nuanced than that.

Extending at team friendly terms is basically a no brainer, since it makes him more attractive in trades if you decide to move on from him later.
As to the or trade part... obviously you need to get value, I wouldn't just dump him, but if I know he's asking for more than I want to offer, and I think it likely another team is going to pay that, I start looking at where he can help me upgrade, and I'm less reticent to lose him in a deal than I was this year, because I know that one of his qualities now is that he's on a good deal, once I'm not sure that will continue I am willing to be more liberal in my use of his salary/talents to package for a key piece.

 

[bsj]

I think I have tipped from wanting Marcus back at all cost to being generally fine if moving him gets us a key piece to build around. I like him and i like his energy, but his shot selection continues to be dreadful, and I officially think the cost of not making a move this offseason far outweighs the cost of making a move. If we are in agreement the 2 Jay's are a) untouchable and b) Good enough to build a title caliber team around, Smart probably a piece that needs to move on.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I don't want any part of contract year Marcus Smart. I'd prefer they trade him but letting him play it out seems awful.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

I want him back. He's a unqiue player whose positives outweigh his negatives by a lot, for me.

 

[RedOctober3829]

I don't want him back and I felt this way after last season too. I think what he brings to the team is overrated and he is not what I consider a long-term building block.

 

[lexrageorge]

The younger Smart was valuable to this team; I don't think 28, 29, or 30 year old Smart is going to be what this team needs in the future. Time to shop him around and take advantage of the potential trade market this offseason. No need to "run it back" with this roster given the amount of players that will be available this summer.

 

[cmaxwell's silver hammer]

Extending at team friendly terms is basically a no brainer, since it makes him more attractive in trades if you decide to move on from him later.
As to the or trade part... obviously you need to get value, I wouldn't just dump him, but if I know he's asking for more than I want to offer, and I think it likely another team is going to pay that, I start looking at where he can help me upgrade, and I'm less reticent to lose him in a deal than I was this year, because I know that one of his qualities now is that he's on a good deal, once I'm not sure that will continue I am willing to be more liberal in my use of his salary/talents to package for a key piece.

I went with no extension/trade--I think paying Smart's next contract is a bad idea.

That said, since we always tend to overvalue our own players, is there any way to get an objective assessment of what Smart's value is around the league at this point? Is it likely we can get a good return?

 

[benhogan]

A decision should be made by Danny either way (extend on a team-friendly deal or trade this summer).

I really don't want contract year Marcus, been through that with Rozier. All that will lead to is Marcus hunting POINTZ and turns him into Marcus "NotSo" Smart

I do think he could be a starting PG on a Championship team. BUT he needs to get back his defensive chops and focus on distributing the ball.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I don't want him back and I felt this way after last season too. I think what he brings to the team is overrated and he is not what I consider a long-term building block.

Yeah. Smart is the Celtics' version of Derek Jeter. I've never been a Smart guy and I don't think he's all that good of a fit for the roster either, though his passing is an asset with how it's currently built. I've been curious what the C's would look like with a sniper in Smart's spot. He's good value on his current contract but who knows how much an extension will be this time around now that he's a passable 3 point shooter and will still be at a decent age (28). In an ideal world, the team would add a 6'4+ pass first PG who can hit the 3 and defend. That would open up options for players in the mold of Carsen (but preferably better) to play 15-20 minutes a night. When PP/whoever comes in as backup PG, you can switch back to the taller 2/wing. This team has struggled to score at times and I think it's partly because they can't really play someone like Lou Williams.

With the emergence of Nesmith the last 3 games, scoring should be less of an issue but I'd still like more options. If they can't trade Kemba, I'd look into trading Smart for a more conventional 3+D guy and if the offers sucks, extend him. If they can move Kemba, I'd be looking into someone like Lonzo to run the point and flipping Smart for the best package available.

Smart is just another starter. I think there are plenty of guys who would offer just as much value as he does at a similar price and be a better fit. Whether you want someone like Marcus Smart, Aaron Gordon or Harrison Barnes ultimately depends on how they fit with the team and your own personal biases. Atlanta is supposed to like Marcus Smart. If they offered up Kevin Huerter for him, I'd drive Smart to the airport. I'm sure others would not make that deal.

Regardless of all of that, letting Marcus Smart walk for nothing is an awful idea for so many reasons, the top 2 being Contract Year Smart and Smart having trade value. At the very least, he could be moved for a lottery protected first.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I went with no extension/trade--I think paying Smart's next contract is a bad idea.

That said, since we always tend to overvalue our own players, is there any way to get an objective assessment of what Smart's value is around the league at this point? Is it likely we can get a good return?

I'd guess we would get an ok return. I think Smart would easily fetch a lottery protected 1st. It would probably end up being a pick in the 20's though. Player wise, we won't really know until the summer. Him and TT are good bets to be traded away as matching salary too.

A decision should be made by Danny either way (extend on a team-friendly deal or trade this summer).

I really don't want contract year Marcus, been through that with Rozier. All that will lead to is Marcus hunting POINTZ and turns him into Marcus "NotSo" Smart

I do think he could be a starting PG on a Championship team. BUT he needs to get back his defensive chops and focus on distributing the ball.

I don't think Marcus Smart's problem is POINTZ so much that he's BIG PLAY Marcus Smart. I think sometimes he even tries to manufacture these big plays and in a contract year... yeah. I want no part.

And we've already been through this with Marcus Smart... 17/18. When he got his contract extension that summer, he was a .360/.293/.756 career shooter. 9.4 points, 3.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals in 28.7 mpg.

Since: .397/.350/.814, 11.3 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals in 30.3 minutes.

People were big wrong about how much Marcus Smart was going to get the first time around but IIRC, no other team even made an offer. Even the people who didn't want Marcus Smart were ok with the deal he signed. I don't think that happens this time around as his 3 point shooting has improved drastically.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I think he's our best PG but I don't know if he'll ever embrace the role of a pass first PG. He's a very good passer, is strong taking the ball to the hole, and can sometimes hit a spot up shot on a kick out. He is terrible creating his own 3, but clearly loves doing it. If he would embrace the role of traditional PG, I'd love to have him back, but if he hasn't by now, I doubt he ever will.

 

[Jimbodandy]

After that abortion of a group walk year a couple of years back, I've kind of settled on never going through walk years on anyone in the rotation if possible.

If the terms are team-friendly, Smart retains value as a trade asset for his contract (absent catastrophic injury, another pandemic, volcanoes, etc.). If not, trade him this offseason for whatever you can get. Add him to TT and something valuable, if it gets you a real piece. Or trade him separately for a bird in hand to some other young team who needs a glue/experience/defense guy.

Dead-ass: contract year Smart is bad business.

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

I voted extend team-friendly or play it out. This year is looking more and more like a lost year. Next year has to be ECF or bust. Kemba, one way or another, is not the starting PG on this team next year. I also dont think they'd get much, if anything, in a trade for Kemba. If everyone is healthy, some further development on the part of all the young guys (I'm including the Jays here), etc., I think their best chance to make a deep run next year is with someone who knows the team/system. Then, hopefully by the 2022-23 season, some combo of PP/Romeo/acquisition can run the point. I dont think picking up a draft pick for smart is worthwhile. There are not a lot of minutes to go around as it is. The problem with trading Smart (in my view anyway) is that he has the most value to GFIN teams, but those teams are unlikely to send an immediately helpful piece back.

Smart, JB, JT, TT, Fournier as starters

Kemba, Pritchard, R Will, Nesmith, Romeo, Jabari Parker as the main bench guys. Need another big in there, but that is a decent bench.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I think he's our best PG but I don't know if he'll ever embrace the role of a pass first PG. He's a very good passer, is strong taking the ball to the hole, and can sometimes hit a spot up shot on a kick out. He is terrible creating his own 3, but clearly loves doing it. If he would embrace the role of traditional PG, I'd love to have him back, but if he hasn't by now, I doubt he ever will.

Yeah, if he was more of a natural point, he'd be a great fit. He's also never really had the chance to be the lead PG either though. He's spent his Celtics career playing alongside ball dominate, non traditional PGs in IT4, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker.

Although to be fair, a pass first PG is close to a unicorn nowadays.

 

[nighthob]

Extensions are based on the final year of the existing contract, which means that Marcus’s extension would come in at around 3/52, and that’s a no-brainer. You sign him on those terms all day every day, because that’s a movable contract once he starts to slow down.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I voted extend team-friendly or play it out. This year is looking more and more like a lost year. Next year has to be ECF or bust. Kemba, one way or another, is not the starting PG on this team next year. I also dont think they'd get much, if anything, in a trade for Kemba. If everyone is healthy, some further development on the part of all the young guys (I'm including the Jays here), etc., I think their best chance to make a deep run next year is with someone who knows the team/system. Then, hopefully by the 2022-23 season, some combo of PP/Romeo/acquisition can run the point. I dont think picking up a draft pick for smart is worthwhile. There are not a lot of minutes to go around as it is. The problem with trading Smart (in my view anyway) is that he has the most value to GFIN teams, but those teams are unlikely to send an immediately helpful piece back.

Smart, JB, JT, TT, Fournier as starters

Kemba, Pritchard, R Will, Nesmith, Romeo, Jabari Parker as the main bench guys. Need another big in there, but that is a decent bench.

It's not out of the question the C's end up with a lottery pick this year. If they lose the play in game(s), they are lottery bound. Even if they make the playoffs, their pick will be in the teens. That player could factor into the rotation next year. I'm kind of hoping the BPA is a big.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I think Marcus is not at all overrated though, he's an elite defender, like truly elite, and shockingly switchable for his size.
Now the thing to me is.... that feels like a skill that might not age well. There have been stretches this year where he's looked a bit slowfooted by his standards.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I think Marcus is not at all overrated though, he's an elite defender, like truly elite, and shockingly switchable for his size.
Now the thing to me is.... that feels like a skill that might not age well. There have been stretches this year where he's looked a bit slowfooted by his standards.

Do you think he's been a truly elite defender this year?

It's possible it's a skill that is already not aging well and is in decline.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Do you think he's been a truly elite defender this year?

It's possible it's a skill that is already not aging well and is in decline.

It's hard to tell in this weird season especially since he was injured. I've seen maybe a bit of slippage against quick guards, but I think his post defense is as good as ever. I'd say he's been more inconsistent than usual this year. Our struggles with switching as a team has made it hard to tell as well... some things I can't tell if Marcus played as well as normal and the botched switch was to blame, or he slipped a bit.

 

[SteveF]

Smart is a bad shooter. I'm fine with him on the team if he is taking 6-8 wide open shots a game and spending lots of time trying to drive and kick.

If the coach can't get him to play that way or the coach is fine with him taking 15 shots a game (even if there are a few starters out) then I want him traded yesterday.

 

[Bleedred]

I do think he could be a starting PG on a Championship team. BUT he needs to get back his defensive chops and focus on distributing the ball.

Next year will be Marcus's 8th season in the NBA, where he has averaged 30 minutes a season playing a fairly aggressive brand of basketball that is hard on his body. What reasonable expectation can we have that he can "get back his defensive chops?" My concern is that we've seen the best of Marcus Smart on the defensive end (still a high-end defender; but will not be an all defense NBA player in years 9-12 of his NBA career) and that any future contract has to price that in. Marcus of course wouldn't accept that, but I think it's a fair concern.

 

[benhogan]

Next year will be Marcus's 8th season in the NBA, where he has averaged 30 minutes a season playing a fairly aggressive brand of basketball that is hard on his body. What reasonable expectation can we have that he can "get back his defensive chops?" My concern is that we've seen the best of Marcus Smart on the defensive end (still a high-end defender; but will not be an all defense NBA player in years 9-12 of his NBA career) and that any future contract has to price that in. Marcus of course wouldn't accept that, but I think it's a fair concern.

Yea that's a legit concern after watching him this season. BUT I think Smart (& Grant) came into the season overweight. I've speculated, several times, that with the short offseason they both took time off to rest their bodies with the plan to get back in shape during the course of this season. Smart is kind of back and Grant's been a disaster. If I'm Danny, I monitor Smart closely in the offseason to see what his conditioning plan is.

IMO Marcus can hang in there defensively (elite) for the next 4 seasons, but he'll need to get fitter/leaner to be a defensive terror at PG. I'm driving the move Kemba train, so that's where Smart fits in (while Fournier, Nesmith, Langford take over the SG/wing spot)