Boston Celtics: 3 Marcus Smart trades to consider this offseason

Marcus Smart returns home to Dallas

With Marcus Smart’s roots in Dallas, rumors of a deal to the Mavericks always float to the surface when he comes up in trade conversations. The “home town” storyline makes a ton of sense, and his fit with Luka Doncic is even better.

Doncic cemented himself as one of the best young superstars in the NBA this postseason, but Dallas’ defense is lacking. They finished 21st in the league in defensive rating and got eliminated in round one of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

In fact, the Mavs have not won a playoff series since winning the NBA Finals with Dirk Nowitzki back in 2011.

Smart would be able to guard the best player on the opposing team every night, freeing up Doncic to save all his energy for the offensive end. If the team decides to keep Kristaps Porzingis, this would leave a potential starting lineup of Doncic, Smart, Tim Hardaway Jr., Porzingis, and Dwight Powell.

As for the Boston Celtics, this move vastly improves their depth. They have been stuck with a team full of young players for the past two years but would be trading for two solidified veterans to come off the bench.

Both Kleber and Finney-Smith proved their worth in Dallas and would be able to help bolster Boston’s offensive and defensive needs.

Kleber is a 6-10 power forward who shot 41 percent from deep this past season. He averaged 7.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in just under 27 minutes per game. He averages just shy of a block per night throughout his four-year NBA career and can hold his own in all defensive situations.

Finney-Smith is a 6-7 forward that showed his true worth in the playoffs this season.

In seven games he averaged 10.3 points and shot 43.2 percent from deep. He also grabbed 6.6 boards, with 2.2 of them coming on the offensive end of the floor.

He’s an extremely versatile wing that can bang down low with bigger players, but also get out on the perimeter and stay with some of the quicker guards in the league.