Boston Celtics: B/R deems Marcus Smart as C’s best trade asset

Though Boston Celtics fans have known it for quite some time, the first 15 games of the 2020-21 season have shown the undisputed value that Marcus Smart possesses for this ball club.

No Kemba Walker to kick off the year? No problem!

During the first 11 outings, Smart filled in for the All-Star at point guard and, in turn, helped lead the Cs to an 8-3 start, along with an impressive five-game winning streak towards the end.

In the 10 games that he played during this span — missed one game due to a thumb injury — the 26-year-old posted per-game averages of 12.4 points, six assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals on 37 percent shooting from the field.

Marcus Smart is one of the most valuable members of this Boston Celtics core

Overall, the Swiss Army man is finding himself posing career highs in points (13.6), assists (6.2), steals (1.9), blocks (.5), and field goal percentage, knocking his buckets in at a 40 percent clip.

With his impressive play, Bleacher Report is now under the impression that, outside of the untouchables (Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown), Smart is the C’s best trade asset.

Citing his All-NBA defensive chops, underrated shooting prowess, and cost-efficient contract, writer Zach Buckley believes that of all the realistic trade pieces they have in tow, the seventh-year pro holds the most value:

"His toughness and ferocity have ingrained him in the fabric of the franchise, so he wouldn’t be shown the exits in just any deal. But if Boston sensed a soft spot in its roster—say, the Al Horford replacement the team has yet to uncover—then Smart’s $13.4 million salary would almost certainly need to be sacrificed.Anything short of a blockbuster, though, and the bulldog defender with a better-than-you-think outside stroke (35.3 percent since the start of 2018-19) would be too valuable to let go. The unlikelihood of said needle-mover coming together midseason should keep Smart draped in green and white."

Buckley went on to say that it would be wise of the Boston Celtics to keep him rather than deal him away, and the Houdini agrees — unless, of course, they get blown away by an offer which was the article’s sentiment as well.

While we at HH are quite interested in the shamrocks making some trades this season, a majority of our favored proposals result in Marcus Smart staying put.