Boston Celtics: C&C links Marcus Smart in potential Ben Simmons trade

If the Boston Celtics do end up involving themselves in the Ben Simmons sweepstakes, it could cost them at least one core member to get a deal done.

Marcus Smart, who was signed to a contract extension this past summer worth $77 million, was mentioned by our FS sister site, Chowder and Champions, as a potential trade piece in such a hypothetical blockbuster.

Initially, A. Sherrod Blakely mentioned a Simmons price drop being the path forward toward Simmons in green.

That led to Tarringo Basile-vaughan of C&C putting two and two together and realizing a price drop in this situation constitutes swapping out Jaylen Brown’s deal for Smart’s in a hypothetical deal:

"That would pretty much leave Marcus Smart, most of the team’s younger players and a multitude of draft picks to get it done.  In echoing Blakely, that is really the only way Ben Simmons would work in Boston.  He would have to be that third star who is more of the facilitator and defensive presence.  Pretty much like a taller, more athletic version of Smart."

Is Simmons’ presence worth giving up Smart for?

The Boston Celtics are better off sticking it out with Smart over Simmons

Ultimately, finding the proper amount of passing and facilitating from the 1 will be the key to maximizing lineups anchored by Brown and Jayson Tatum. Even Kevin Durant needed top playmakers like Steph Curry and Draymond Green alongside him to realize his championship potential.

That said, Smart has grown into his own under Brad Stevens and should only continue to be empowered under new coach Ime Udoka. Bringing in Simmons would usurp the synergy Smart has established with the Jays, and with Dennis Schroder already waiting in the wings looking to win the starting job, integrating this many new pieces could bring growing pains that could put the Cs behind the 8-ball early on in 2021-22.

Staying the course is probably the best course of direction for Stevens and co. If Simmons had a jump shot, this would be a different conversation.