What’s His Worth?
Much of this comes down to just how much Smart would get on the open market as a restricted free agent. Considering Otto Porter, who is something like the 12 to 15th best player at his position (granted, it is one of scarcity), is receiving a nine figure offer sheet, it’s a safe bet that Smart will be able to get one at least half as large.
Dion Waiters is an apt comparison here. Although he and Smart are very different players, both are precisely the type of third guard teams crave. They each provide a jolt – albeit at different ends of the court – and can spot start in a pinch. Waiters signed at four years and $52 million, a deal that has been well received league-wide.
There will undoubtedly be some asset-poor team next summer looking to get a high-energy, defensive minded guard in their locker room. It’s not unreasonable to think Smart could find an offer sheet of four years and $60 million, even in a depressed market.
At $15 million annually, it’s questionable as to whether Smart even passes the asset test. In other words, would an average team willingly take on his salary in exchange for precisely nothing (hat tip to Danny Leroux for the term)? All this takes us back to the current situation Boston finds itself in.