Unleashing Marcus Would be Wicked Smaht

There’s a opportunity for Marcus Smart to step up and show his potential this season.

There will still be a number zero taking the floor for the Boston Celtics this season, but the man wearing that jersey will not be named Avery Bradley. With Bradley’s departure, a gaping hole has opened in the Boston starting lineup.

Now I fully expect that spot to be filled with various players of the course of the season depending on matchups and opponents, but one man that will be a major part of that mix is fourth-year guard, Marcus Smart.

During his three years in Boston, Smart has been a mixed bag, to say the least. His defense and hustle are what you hope each and every player brings when they step onto the court. However, his offensive game has been as rocky as Balboa.

His overall game has progressed each year, but the same cannot be said about his shooting. His best shooting season from downtown and overall was in his rookie season in 2014-15. During that season he shot 36.7% overall and 33.5% from deep. This past season those numbers were only 35.9% and 28.3% respectively.

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There’s still time for Smart to improve his shooting, but after what he’s shown so far in his career, do we really expect him to turn into a big offensive weapon? I don’t think so. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a big part of Boston’s offense this upcoming season.

With Smart entering the last year of his rookie deal, Boston is going to be faced with a decision over the next 11 months. Do they sign Smart long-term, trade him, or let him walk in free agency? As we stand today that’s a difficult question to answer. You know what would help Boston’s hierarchy in making that decision? Unleashing Smart this season.

Now I’m not saying that Brad Stevens should let him take 20 shots a game or anything. With Smart’s percentages, that’d be an insane thing to do. But the Celtics are never truly going to know what type of player Smart can be unless they let him show them what he can do when the reins are loosened.

Smart is a strong, explosive guard that has a knack for getting to the rim in a hurry. However, a lot of times he settles for the outside shot instead of driving. That needs to stop. I’m not saying he shouldn’t shoot a perimeter jumper ever again but with his strength and quickness, Smart needs to be taking it to the hole.

The more he gets to the free throw line the better. That’s the one shooting area where he’s vastly improved in. After shooting just 64.6% during his rookie season, his free throw percentage has risen each of the last two years from 64.6% to 77.7% to 81.2% last season.

Having the ball in Smart’s hands doesn’t only benefit him, it benefits Isaiah Thomas and Gordon Hayward as well. Those are the two guys Boston needs to score a lot of points this season. Both are great at creating their own shots, but wouldn’t it be great if they could get some open shots from defenses collapsing on Smart when he drives? That answer is a resounding yes.

Last season Smart averaged 10.6 points on 9.5 shots in 30.4 minutes per game. All three of those numbers should go up this season. Not dramatically, but definitely increase some. If Marcus can score 14-15 points per game while chipping in around five rebounds and five assists per game, he’ll prove to Boston’s brainpower that he can be a big part of the plan moving forward.

If Smart has the type of season I just mentioned, then I think Boston would be better off signing him and letting Thomas walk. Before you show up at my front door with flaming torches and pitch forks, hear me out. Like I’ve mentioned before, small players like Thomas have limited shelf lives in the NBA. Allen Iverson started breaking down in his early 30’s and Thomas will turn 30 half way through the first season of his next contract.

On the other hand, Smart is about six years younger and is still getting better. Not to mention, it won’t take a max contract to sign him like it will with Thomas. Is Smart going to be as valuable of a player as Thomas? No, probably not. But the money you’d save by signing Smart would greatly benefit the rest of the roster.

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In the end, we don’t know how this is going to play out until the spring. In the meantime though, Boston needs to unleash Smart and let him show everyone what he’s capable of. Regardless if Boston signs him long-term, trades him, or lets him walk, unleashing him this season will help make that decision a whole heck of a lot easier.