Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart will be traded to Hawks, B/R ‘boldly’ predicts

Though the Boston Celtics have gone on somewhat of a hot streak since the turn of the calendar year to 2022, winning 11 of their 17 games since January 2nd and 10 of their last 14, many are still under the impression that sizeable shakeups very well could be upon the horizon.

With the fact that the NBA Trade Deadline is literally just a week away, despite the team’s recent successes the rumor mill has been churning at an all-time high this season and, oftentimes, we see the C’s intertwined within it, seeing hypothetical scenarios ranging from bringing on low-end role players to taking part in all-out blockbusters.

At this point in time, the majority of rumblings out there are all just speculative, for the intentions of Boston’s decision-makers are currently well kept under wraps. Because of this, until more news surfaces discussing the nitty-gritty “who’s” and “what’s” of trade season, all we are left to do is make proclamations of what we believe should happen and concoct predictions of what could happen between now and February 10th.

As far as the latter part is concerned, the media has been all about coming up with potential scenarios fans could see for the Boston Celtics come the climax of this year’s trade season and, just recently, the folks at Bleacher Report came up with a self-proclaimed ‘bold prediction’ that starting guard, Marcus Smart, will be dealt to conference rival, the Atlanta Hawks.

Citing the fact that, earlier this year, the two ball clubs have already gone about and discussed making a move that would have sent the defensive stalwart down to the Peach State, writer, Grant Hughes, believes that if the Hawks continue to dwindle down the standings, such talks could wind up being reignited:

"Smart makes all the sense in the world in Atlanta, where the Hawks need a tough defender to a) keep Trae Young from getting cooked by quality offensive threats and b) turn around a culture that seems to have given up on that end. With Smart around diving for loose balls and throwing his body into traffic, it’ll be a lot harder for the rest of the Hawks to get away with anything less than maximum commitment.He and a healthy De’Andre Hunter could push Atlanta above the league average on D. That would be no small feat for a squad that has spent most of this season in the bottom five on that end."

Now, when we’ve seen a hypothetical trade scenario between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics this season, it has been a rather common theme where Smart is swapped out for mere role players and, if we’re lucky, some draft capital.

Yuck!

However, Hughes makes the concept of trading away the C’s point guard a bit more intriguing with his recent piece, as he brings up the possibility of having rising star power forward, John Collins, being sent back to Eastern Massachusetts in return which, as many of you already know, we at HH are big on having a talent of his magnitude come aboard.

"John Collins seems unhappy with his role again (and therefore possibly available), and Atlanta could take on additional money Boston doesn’t want to get the deal done. Throw Josh Richardson into this trade, and Boston would get the $2.8 million in salary relief it needs to duck the luxury tax.Collins was a major force in Atlanta’s surge to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, and Smart has factored into three playoff runs of that depth in Boston. Yet both may have reached the end of the line with their respective teams.While Atlanta gets the specific skill set it needs, the Celtics add the younger, brighter star."

Though it may be difficult to envision the Boston Celtics trading away Marcus Smart, especially since he’s been playing quite well as of late (11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds on 54 percent shooting from the floor and 37 percent shooting over the last six games), landing a guy of Collins’ talent could prove to be a phenomenal move to make in the long run for this franchise, as he plays a position of great need, is still only 24, and is boasting impressive per-game averages of 16.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, two assists, and just over a block per game on 54 percent shooting from the floor and 39 percent shooting from deep.

What say you C’s fans? Would you trade Marcus Smart if it meant bringing back John Collins in return, or should Brad Stevens try to hold onto his Swiss Army man?

Whatever your thoughts are, go ahead and leave them in the comments section below!