Boston Celtics: 2 blockbuster deals that land 2021 draft picks

Why the Boston Celtics do it

Losing Marcus Smart is something few fans ever want to see happen, but a potential whopper of a payday could be imminent with a potential foray into free agency possible in 2022. His shooting cost them games in the 2020 bubble postseason, and if that happens again, it could be time to move on from Smart.

His contract is one of the few that could bring back impact pieces, but Smart as an asset is also one of the few that could bring back a top pick.

Mychal Mulder and Damion Lee are stealthy contributors that both shoot better than 37% from beyond the arc.

Why the Golden State Warriors do it

There has long been chatter from the Bay Area media linking the Golden State Warriors to Marcus Smart. It’s made sense for many reasons from the Dubs’ side.

Mainly, the team never filled the void left by Andre Iguodala following the veteran’s departure in 2019 free agency to open up the cap space necessary to land D’Angelo Russell. That trade-off didn’t pan out, and the team free-fell from the top of the standings to the bottom.

Smart brings the defensive doggedness of Iggy, though he is a bit more of a volume shooter. Then again, perhaps playing alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green (and eventually Klay Thompson) will improve his efficiency.