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Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart running out of FA options

By Joshua Bateman

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics speaks to Marcus Smart in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics speaks to Marcus Smart in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Marcus Smart is running out of options on the free agent market

No one expected Marcus Smart‘s free agency negotiations to be quick, but it is starting to take a lot longer than many people anticipated. There has been time to test the free market, and the longer Smart waits the worse his position gets.

Teams that were interested are making their moves, and spending their money. A team would not have held out on Smart this long, and with the qualifying offer in place, there is no reason for the Boston Celtics to rush.

No matter what, they can match an offer sheet, but it is feeling less and less likely that Smart will be signing anything elsehwere. In fact, the more likely option right now appears to be the qualifying offer. Next summer, there is going to be a lot more money available, so signing the qualifying offer gives Smart another opportunity to test a better market.

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The problem is that means Smart is taking a significant pay cut this season, so a contract can still be in play. In the end, Smart seems like a likely candidate to once again bet on himself, but that could lead to an even more troubling offseason for the Celtics.

They could be in a worse position to pay him next season, so signing that qualifying offer can certainly threaten the future fate of Smart on the team.

For now, all we can do is wait, but it does not feel like much more can change at this point. It is no surprise that the Celtics would not cave, and if Smart is not getting what he wants money wise, he is better off making that sacrifice in Boston than anywhere else.

Boston is still the best place for Smart to showcase his skills, which will put him in a better position to get that big contract next offseason, with or without the Celtics. It also gives him a chance to contend in the Finals. Most of the teams that would pay him will not be close to the Celtics, adding even more incentive.

On top of that, Smart has been a part of this entire core and is the longest tenured player on the team. This place means something to him that goes beyond money. The wait is annoying, but there are fewer and fewer reasons to think Smart will actually be leaving this offseason.

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The future will probably still be in question, but Smart has run out of too many options and should be back with the Celtics next season.