In Shams Charania’s most recent NBA trade deadline update, he reported the Atlanta Hawks have “expressed interest” in Boston Celtics Marcus Smart.
Marcus Smart just turned 27-years-old and is currently the longest-tenured Celtic. He has a special place in all Cs fans’ hearts. And I’m sure it is the same with the front office, it would take significant value for him to be sent away.
So what exactly is that value?
The Boston Celtics have an interest in more than one Hawk.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Boston Celtics’ interest in John Collins has also added another name; Bogdan Bogdanovic. O’Connor stated:
"Boston’s pursuit of Collins also involves another key Hawks rotation player, according to league sources: Bogdan Bogdanovic, whom the Celtics had some trade discussions about while he was in Sacramento. If the Hawks were to acquire Ball, maybe moving Bogdanovic would make some sense. Both Collins, 23, and Bogdanovic, 28, fit the timeline of All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are 23 and 24, yet are good enough to compete now."
This report came out before Shams most recent report about Smart. This means things could be falling into place, and fast. We could very well see Smart heading to Atlanta, with Collins and Bogdanovic heading back to Beantown.
The Cs pursuit of Collins has been well documented, and while Collins is the all-important “shooting with size”, would it be worth it? Collins — averaging 18 points on 62.4% true shooting— is an exceptional offensive player. He would fortify the offense in terms of rebounding, and spacing.
Bogdanovic on the other hand is having a down-year, to put it nicely. He is posting averages of 9.5 points, and 2.3 assists, on 51% true shooting—6% below league average. In his 3 years prior, he put up 13.5 points per game on 55% true shooting. It could be the change of scenery, it could be his injury, but he hasn’t been his usual self.
That is not to say he doesn’t have potential, but the Hawks just signed him and are already looking to trade him. That alone should tell you something, but we can get him for less value, and hopefully he can turn it around.
Can the Boston Celtics afford to give up the defense of Smart?
While these are two great players that can really help our starting lineup and give us bench production, we are going to miss Smart in such a deal. Both Collins and Bogdanovic are sub-par defenders, and giving up the best defender on an already poor defensive team could be a disaster.
The Cs in general have very little defensive identity, and have by all measures, the worst 4th quarter defense in the NBA.
The only way the Cs should consider this trade is if other trades are in place. They would be giving up not only their best defender but their best playmaker as well. While the offense has struggled, playmaking and defense have largely been the biggest hole, and we would only be digging it deeper trading the 7th-year pro.
The Boston Celtics also have interest in Orlando Magic guard, Evan Fournier:
In the same report from Shams, he stated:
"A potential suitor for Magic sharpshooter Evan Fournier: The Celtics, sources said. Fournier is on an expiring contract worth $17.1 million"
It would not take nearly as much to take Fournier from the Magic’s grasp as it would for Vucevic or Gordon. The Magic have stated they want “young players and/or 1st round picks” for Gordon, and have stood their ground on keeping Vuc.
Fournier on the other hand is on an expiring contract, and as he ages, I’m sure he’d prefer to spend his time on a contender. Possibly a deal surrounding Thompson or Nesmith and a pick would get it done.
The 28-year-old G/F is posting averages of 19 points, three rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, on 45/38/80 shooting splits. He —like Collins and Bogi— is also a bad defender, however, we would be keeping smart so it is something we can definitely afford to do.
On the front of the Trade exception…is this what Boston wants to use it on? Who knows if Fournier re-signs in Boston after this year, and more than half the exception would be gone. While he would be an exceptional boost to the bench, it could be a waste of time if he just leaves 40 games later.
Whatever Ainge decides to do, it could be very very soon, as we are just 72 hours away from the deadline.