Marcus Smart is, undoubtedly, the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, that puts the Celtics in the unenviable position of quantifying how much those traits are actually worth.
Smart plays as hard as anyone in the league, more than making up for his lack of offensive polish with his relentless hustle, stifling defense and an endless well of grit. But a lion’s heart will only get you so far as Smart, for all his positive qualities, is still a deeply flawed player, failing to evolve offensively while often letting his emotions get the best of him.
It’s been posited that Brad Stevens, frustrated by Smart’s anemic shooting (career 37.6 field-goal percentage) and hot temper, might even consider trading the former lottery pick, whose four-year, $52-million contract is due to expire after next season. However, despite Smart’s shortcomings, the Celtics have reportedly offered him a four-year, $77-million extension that would keep him in Boston through his age-32 season. Here are the specifics courtesy of beat writer Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald and Audacy insider Ryan McDonough.
On a per-year basis, that would make Smart the fourth highest-paid Celtic behind Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford, now in his second tour of duty with Boston. That’s a fair offer for a player with a relatively niche skill set, though keep in mind, we’re also operating in a world where Jarrett Allen and Duncan Robinson are valued at $100 million and $90 million, respectively.
Could Smart shake a few more drops out of the free-agent coconut next offseason? Possibly, but Smart would also be another year older and may not have as much leverage as he thinks given his weak scoring output (career 10.2 points per game) and durability concerns dating back to his rookie season. His trademark intensity both on the court and in the locker room can also be an acquired taste.
If Smart decides to bet on himself by declining the Celtics’ offer, Boston could pivot to Lakers alum Dennis Schroder, who the team has already approached in free agency. The Celtics, who are still seeking to fill the point guard void left by Kemba Walker (now of the Knicks), also explored signing Lonzo Ball before he joined the Bulls on a four-year deal earlier this week.
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