While Marcus Smart’s return to the starting lineup has given the Celtics a jolt in their past two games, he finds his name in trade rumors once again. Smart signed an extension last summer, so he was only eligible to be traded starting Tuesday.
But the Celtics explored a potential Smart move that would have sent him to Atlanta, according to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer.
The framework of the deal reportedly centered on Cam Reddish and Kevin Huerter. The Hawks went in a different direction instead as they shipped Reddish to the Knicks on Jan. 13. While there would have likely been other pieces in the trade, Huerter would’ve been the primary returning piece for the Celtics.
Smart’s found his name in trade rumors often throughout the years. He signed a four-year extension during the offseason which keeps him through the 2025-26 season.
While Smart has reportedly been shopped by Boston president Brad Stevens, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be easy to get. Fischer reports it would take “significant value in return” for the franchise to consider moving on from the longest-tenured Celtic. Smart has played in Boston since the 2014-15 season and has been the team’s emotional leader for years.
There are other Celtics who could find themselves traded. The primary name is Dennis Schröder, who’s on a bargain $5.9 million contract this season. While it’s no guarantee Schröder is moved at the deadline, he makes the most sense because of his contract status.
Fischer reports other names like Aaron Nesmith and Al Horford are more realistic trade targets. Nesmith has provided a few sparks throughout the season, but he hasn’t consistently been in the rotation. There’s a “limited market” for Horford, but some of the appeal comes from his contract. Only $14.5 million of the $26.5 million due to Horford next season is guaranteed, so that could be cap relief for a team.
The trade deadline’s set for Feb. 10, meaning it’s two weeks away. While trade talks have already been ongoing for weeks, the heat should start to ramp up for decision-makers throughout the league. The Celtics already made a minor move when they traded Juancho Hernangomez in a three-team deal that saw them bring back Bol Bol and PJ Dozier.
That relatively-small move is representative of what the Celtics want this offseason: Cap flexibility. The primary goal of the Hernangomez trade was to get under the luxury tax. They’re only a little above the tax currently, making it easier for Stevens and the front office to dip under the mark.
The long-term goal is to pair a third star with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. But in the short-term, the Celtics are looking to maintain flexibility for future offseasons.
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