Boston Celtics: What to Make of Marcus Smart Trade Talk

Should we be taking Marcus Smart trade talk seriously?

We are just a few days away from the trade deadline, and the Boston Celtics still have not made a move. It is not too surprising to see the Celtics stay quiet in the middle of a season with Gordon Hayward not expected back, but there have been some rumours.

There has been some minor talk about some secondary trade targets, but the most interesting thing so far might have been the report that Marcus Smart is available for a first round pick. Getting a pick in return also avoids the Hayward problem, because this is the opposite of a win now move.

Obviously, what the exact pick would be is a major difference, because the value of a lottery pick compared to a late first could make all the difference in the world. The timing, however, is what makes this most concerning. Smart just had a major lapse in judgment that is keeping him out of the lineup, and Terry Rozier has blown everyone away with the way he has played as a starter.

The Celtics are at a point where they will not be able to keep all their young talent, and will have to make a decision. Rozier has not done enough to completely overtake the impact Smart’s had so far, but there are other factors.

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When you see his potential replacement playing this well after an incident that certainly could have hurt the way he is perceived in the franchise, you will naturally think of whether or not he is going to be traded.

If the Celtics really are looking to make any kind of move at the deadline, it is reasonable to think Smart could be shipped off. Ainge reminded everyone this offseason that no one is comfortable, and if the injury and Rozier’s play has impacted their future plans with him at all, they may want to get something in return before they decide to go in another direction.

The problem is that I do not think the Celtics are going to base their decisions with Rozier on this small of a sample. If Rozier overtaking Smart is something that is building, then this will undoubtedly be a factor. Isolated by itself, however, this stretch is not enough to say they are better off with Rozier than Smart.

Keep in mind, for as great as Rozier has been running the offense, he still cannot compare to Smart’s defense. No matter how impressive Rozier is or how frustrating Smart is, he plays the kind of defense that cannot be replaced and will never be overlooked by this team.

The Celtics have still been playing great team defense without him, but he is a true game changer on that end, and that is one are he will always have an advantage over Rozier in. The Celtics need to evaluate exactly what they want from that roster spot going forward.

Right now, it is hard to see the Celtics making a move that is significant enough to send Smart packing before the end of the season. The unfortunate reality is that means the Celtics are probably missing out on an opportunity to get an extra asset they can use, but that is not going to be the priority.

The Celtics need to make sure they take as much as possible into account while making a decision between on Smart and Rozier, and a lot of it could come down to how much money Smart is going to look for.

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With the way Rozier has been playing, the amount of money that they would be willing to pay Smart could do down. Smart loses leverage every time Rozier impresses the front office. Maybe Ainge will have another shocker in store for us this deadline, but the biggest thing you should take from these rumours are that Smart is far from a lock to be a part of the future of this team.

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