Boston Celtics: The Marcus Smart dilemma headed into free agency

Headed into NBA Free Agency, the Boston Celtics have a Marcus Smart dilemma that won’t be easy to resolve

The offseason is now in full swing and the free agency frenzy has begun. If this year’s free agency period is anything close to the chaos that occured last year, then it could once again change the complexion of the NBA.

One team that was heavily active last year were the Boston Celtics, thanks in large part to the mastermind Danny Ainge. After years of withholding his treasure chest of assets, Ainge went all in by acquiring Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward while also bolstering the Celtics’ depth. Even after an overachieving season where the Celtics were a win away from an NBA Finals appearance, Ainge is not likely to make a franchise-altering move, unless it’s for Kawhi Leonard, as the one main focus for the team will be on the future of Marcus Smart with the Celtics.

Smart will be a restricted free agent, which means that everything in regards to his future is up in the air. The situation is complicated due to the contract negotiations that began last year when Smart and the Celtics front office were unable to agree on a contract extension.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

He will end up having several options on the table: negotiate a long-term deal with the Celtics, accept a potential qualifying offer while becoming an unrestricted free agent next year, agree to a sign-and-trade or sign an offer sheet with another team.

Both Smart and the Celtics are hopeful to reach an agreement early in free agency because they are both a near perfect match for each other. The value that Smart brings to the Celtics is immense and while his play can frustrate Celtics fans at times, there is no denying that he has played a key role in the Celtics’ recent success.

As alluded to before, the frustrations with Smart come mostly on offense where his struggles have been near historic. When the Celtics drafted him out of Oklahoma State, the hope was for him to eventually develop into a reliable scorer that could alternate between being a ball-handler on the floor and a consistent shooter. Instead, Smart has not had a season where has shot over 40 percent from the field or over 35 percent from the 3-point line.

Just last season, Smart posted a -0.6 offensive win share with a 48 percent true shooting percentage – not ideal at all.

And Celtics fans certainly have not forgotten his 1-10 shooting performance against the Cavs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Aside from his dreadful shooting, Smart has been effective for head coach Brad Stevens in other offensive aspects such as passing. Smart averaged 4.9 assists per game and 43.2 passes made per game last season. Smart is heavily involved in an offense that is never stagnant in off-ball movement but rather is structured to look for high percentage shots.

With his defense, it is a completely different story. His defensive work on the floor embodies what it means to play with Celtic pride. Not many defenders in the NBA today fight for every loose ball or run back to attempt a block on an opponent’s transition shot like Smart does on a game-by-game basis. For an organization that has had defensive anchors from the likes of Bill Russell and Kevin Garnett, Smart exemplifies all-around superb play on defense.

Whether it is deflecting opponent’s passes that would lead to fast break points or isolation defensive matchups in the post, Smart has established himself to be one of the more versatile defenders in the NBA.

The aggressiveness and hustle at which he played with this past season was a major reason as to why the Celtics ranked 2nd in the NBA in team defensive rating and why they recorded numerous double-digit comebacks. Smart has been a near perfect fit for Stevens’ defensive system that is always looking to cause turnovers, whether they are positioned in a zone system or not.

As seen in this play against the 76ers in Game 5, Smart has great awareness in surveying his area on the floor while keeping an eye on Joel Embiid. This leads to Smart deflecting the ball off of Embiid’s hands and an eventual transition bucket for the Celtics that gets the TD Garden pumped up.

Guarding positions 1-4 is also a key strength of his as who can forget his playoff battle against Paul Millsap two years ago.

In an era that is full of elite guards, Smart has been pivotal in in the Celtics defensive plans of containing them. In the absence of Avery Bradley, Brad Stevens has given Marcus Smart the heavy responsibility of guarding the likes of Stephen Curry and other top guards.

In the Celtics huge win against the Warriors in November, Marcus Smart held Stephen Curry to 0-3 shooting and Klay Thompson to 0-3 as well when he guarded the duo. With the Celtics comeback win against the Rockets in December, Smart held James Harden to an impressive 1-12 shooting when he guarded the NBA MVP.

Smart can really do it all on the floor from guarding the 3-point line down to post matchups against some of the best, creative scorers in the NBA. He does a fine job of not giving his opponent any kind of space to create a shot. The quick instincts that he has at his disposal can create turnovers and force shots that the opponent does not usually take.

Now it is fair for fans to remain conflicted on the future of Marcus Smart, especially if he will be set on demanding an estimated $12-$14 million per season. The hope for him to develop as a reliable scorer is certainly not a possibility anymore and his knack to hack shots in unnecessary moments can be a burden on the Celtics offense.

Even with his highs and lows while also starting to potentially become an injury prone player, Smart is needed on this team. The Celtics can not afford to lose two defensive anchors in Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart in back-to-back off-seasons. He is simply a winning player. Who can forget his clutch charge call against James Harden and the Rockets that propelled the Celtics comeback win or his redemption plays against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals?

Marcus Smart is this generation’s Tony Allen – a winning, defensive-minded talent.

Now if both sides fail to come to an agreement on a long-term deal, it would mean the end of Smart’s time in Boston but neither would have a hard time filling the hole that was left. Smart will very likely have several offers on the table from playoff teams while the Celtics will shift gears on an intriguing free agent guard market while looking to bolster other key areas of the team.

Must Read: NBA Rumors: Should the Pacers target Aaron Gordon in free agency?

Ultimately, Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens are hopeful that the team can reach a deal with Smart. The grit and hustle at which he plays perfectly illustrates what it means to play Boston Celtics defense. He energizes the TD Garden with the passion and 100 percent on every play mentality. It is best for both sides to reach a quick and effortless long-term agreement.

Home/Boston Celtics