Boston Celtics: AUCH sees Marcus Smart as potential Miami Heat trade target

The Miami Heat are among the biggest movers and shakers of the offseason so far, and Boston Celtics combo guard Marcus Smart could be the next major addition Pat Riley is eyeing to complement his 2019-20 Eastern Conference championship core.

As All U Can Heat expert Jack Simone believes, Smart could be the next trade addition to a team that has already added 2019 NBA Champion Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade and 2021 NBA Champion P.J. Tucker as a free agent.

While the Heat resigned Duncan Robinson, Simone believes the team’s dearth of depth at guard could ultimately lead them to a Smart pursuit.

Have things changed, though, in the wake of Miami landing Lowry in a sign-and-trade that involved Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa?

Maybe. Miami still has one major trade asset that would likely have Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations pondering the prospects of sending Smart to the very franchise that blocked his best chance at an NBA Championship in 2020 in Tyler Herro.

But if Riley isn’t willing to part with Herro–who, despite seeing a dip in 3-point efficiency improved everywhere else on the floor–there won’t be any room for a deal.

Kendrick Nunn looked like he could be a valuable enough commodity to warrant inclusion in such a deal once upon a time, but Dragic’s rise in the NBA postseason bubble last year robbed some luster on Nunn’s ascension.

Expect Smart to stay in Boston for the foreseeable future, with the chance of a deal at the trade deadline, assuming a superstar does not become readily available this offseason. Stevens is likely planning for the long-haul with eyes on 2022, and dealing for Smart for another expiring contract might just be counterintuitive.

Stevens may field a call from Miami, but he will probably hang up the phone with Smart still on the roster.