NBA
Restricted free agent Marcus Smart has agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics, says league sources.
Smart and his camp reign victorious in this deal. It was a combative start to negotiations since the beginning of the season. The Celtics turned down a similar offer before the start of last season. Smart’s agent, Happy Walters, and the Celtics made substantial progress in recent days. Ensuring Smart remains in the legendary green and white.
Walters and Smart met with the Celtics’ front office and ownership on Thursday in Boston to finalize the agreement, league sources said. Celtics could have waited for Smart and his agent to settle for a $6.1 million qualifying offer by October 1st.
Smart, 24, met with several teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets. Smart also had a private meeting with Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge last week. He has established himself as part of the Celtics’ core and principles. Smart serves as a persistent guard, locker room leader and productive player.
Plunging into Luxury Tax
The Celtics chose to gain some stability at point guard. One summer before All-Star and NBA Champion Kyrie Irving is scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency. Terry Rozier will also be a restricted free agent if no extension is reached. Extending Smart’s contract will plunge the Celtics into the luxury tax this season. GM Danny Ainge recently said he expected this to happen.
More expensive repeater taxes could emerge in the immediate future if Boston keeps its core intact. The payroll could expand even more if Irving re-signs for a massive contract next summer. Not to mention Celtics’ younger players like Jaylen Brown and rising-star Jason Tatum positioning for lucrative extensions. By qualifying for the luxury tax this early shows that keeping this young group together seems to be in the best interest of the Celtics’ organization.
Resiliency and Toughness
Smart did not play all 82 games last year due to missing time because of a right-hand injury he suffered punching a glass frame. Smart also dealt with a torn UCL in his right thumb in mid-March while diving for a loose ball. He underwent surgery but returned in the first round of the playoffs.
Smart averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 54 games last season. In 15 postseason games, he averaged 9.8 points, 5.3 assists and 3.7 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes per game. Smart was Boston’s 6th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft out of Oklahoma State.
