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In this latest episode of the Woj Pod, Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the Celtics will listen to offers for Marcus Smart ahead of the trade deadline, and that Boston could move him for a first round pick.
Report: Marcus Smart available for first round pick https://t.co/zz4ixeEflP
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 3, 2018
Wojnarowski said that, “[Smart} is a player that’s available for a first round pick. If a team was willing to give Boston a first, Boston would look at it.”
Smart is expected to miss the next two weeks with a right hand laceration he sustained the afternoon before the Celtics played the Los Angles Clippers. Brad Stevens has mentioned that he is disappointed with Smart’s decision, and that the team will deal with the issue internally even though it hasn’t been reached.
However, Wojnarowski highlights Smart’s restricted free agency as a reason for a potential trade.
“He’s proven he can help you win a playoff game or two. He doesn’t shoot great from 3-point line, some of the things you want from a guard in this day and age. He defends, he’s super competitive. But they can’t pay everybody in Boston and they’re going to have to make decisions. But does a team want to give up a first for a player when they don’t know what it will cost to keep him. I’m not sure that will happen. But I think certainly if they were going to make a move with one of their core guys, there’s potential that it’s going to be Smart.”
The Celtics signed Greg Monroe on Friday and are reportedly after Tyreke Evans or Lou Williams in a trade to add more scoring to their bench unit. Both the Clippers and Grizzlies are reportedly requesting a first round pick in any deal for their players and it is unclear whether the Celtics would be willing to surrender a first rounder for a rental.
The Celtics currently have about $3.5 million in space under the luxury tax after signing Monroe. Evans makes roughly $3.3 million on his contract, while Williams makes $7 million. It is unclear what the Celtics plan to do at the February 8th trade deadline, but similar to every deadline with Danny Ainge in charge, it should be interesting right until the end.