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Boston Celtics: Wanamaker impact on Smart’s free agency

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 23, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 23: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 23, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Signing Brad Wanamaker should not change Boston’s plans with Marcus Smart’s free agency

The Boston Celtics have already made a move this offseason by going overseas an adding Brad Wanamaker. The Celtics have seen success by going overseas with both Daniel Theis and Shane Larkin, and they may have found themselves yet another contributor.

Right now, the biggest obstacle in his way is how deep the Celtics are. Wanamaker will really have to impress and have a solid two way impact if he is going to get minutes, but the Celtics clearly see something in him that they can use.

Another massive question that will impact Wanamaker is what happens with Marcus Smart. They are both versatile gaurds, and a lot of people might be thinking that getting Wanamaker could be the Celtics tipping their hand a bit with Smart.

The Celtics have acquired another option, and some may think that makes Smart more expendable. The problem is that there may be some similarities between Smart and Wanamaker, but it really is limited to their size and position.

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If Smart is back next season, there will certainly be less minutes for Wanamaker. If, however, people believe that the Celtics could be looking at him as a Smart replacement, there is no way he can capture that impact.

The most likely situation is that the Celtics have always had a price range with Smart, and adding Wanamaker will not change what they are willing to spend on him. Smart does things on defense that you cannot expect out of anyone else, and his impact on offense is a lot more about play making than Wanamaker.

The two of them should not be compared too closely because they would have drastically different roles on this team, and that is why you have to think the plans with Smart’s free agency remain completely in tact.

There is certainly some truth to the idea that the Celtics are looking for more options if Smart ends up going somewhere else in free agency, and Wanamaker will be an option to replace some of the depth that would be lost. The Celtics, however, cannot expect Wanamaker to have enough of an impact to change what they have been planning all along with Smart.

If the Celtics lose Smart, it will take a collection of players in different situations to try and replace his impact, and it is unclear how many of those situations could involve Wanamaker.

The Celtics are getting some versatility in Wanamaker, but it is too different from the versatility of Smart to think that he can make any real difference in what will happen with Smart’s free agency.

Right now, Smart should be the number one free agency priority of the Celtics. That is not to say they are going to break the bank for him, but what happens should be predicated on him, and not the other way around.

It is certainly a possibility that Smart will be out of the price range of the Celtics, but they need to know that before they make any significant move. Adding Wanamaker is not significant enough to think it has changed any plans for the Celtics.

The moment a decision with Smart is made, is the moment when the plans of the Celtics can change. They want to make sure they keep open as many options as possible, and there is little to no harm in adding Wanamaker, even if Smart could make it difficult for him to get enough minutes to have a real impact next season.

If all Wanamaker ends up being is injury depth, it might be slightly disappointing, but that is still acceptable from someone they are bringing in from overseas.

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The Celtics can have a special core of guards next season, and Wanamaker makes it more intriguing. Signing him, however, is no where near impactful enough to suggest it might cause the Celtics to lower how much they are willing to pay Smart.

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