Marcus Smart’s Agent And The Celtics Are Talking 4-Year Deals Right Now
Celtics GM Danny Ainge and Happy Walters, the agent for restricted free agent guard Marcus Smart, are now seriously engaged in contract talks, league sources tell ESPN. Potential deal range is in the four-year, $46M-$50M range, sources tell ESPN. Talks ongoing.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 18, 2018
Woj came out today dropping little firecrackers after the massive Kawhi Leonard news this morning. And yeah, while this is small news, this is probably the biggest story in regards to the Celtics this summer since Danny Ainge probably won’t be making any groundbreaking moves this offseason.
Marcus Smart is a workhorse and a Boston Celtics favorite. He clearly loves being a member of the Cs but obviously, in the end, it all comes down to money.
If you’re a Celtics fan, seeing a number that is reportedly $12.5M as the max in the “talks” should make you happy. Ahead of the offseason, we heard numbers around or north of $15M which, come on Marcus, you’re not worth that type of money to many teams.
Smart is a bulldog who’s number one intangible is his annoyance against defenders. He gets in their brains, hires contractors and builds condos. The Celtics had no business stealing that game last year against the Houston Rockets at the Garden, but Smart legit caused a brain malfunction to occur in Harden’s head.
We need to wait for the news to drop but if Danny Ainge can swing Marcus Smart on a 4-year deal that tops out at $12.5M a year, that’s another brilliant move by the best GM in the NBA.
Now if you make this move, it most likely signifies that Terry Rozier is toast in Boston. Which, while I appreciate what the guy did for the team at the end of the season last year and through the playoffs, if you can lock-in Kyrie, then do you really need Scary Terry?
Huge move not only for Smart, but for the team as well if they can get this done. Do your thing, Danny and bring Marcus Smart home. #ThatsMyPresidentOfBasketballOperations
-Nick Quaglia (@NickQuag)