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Gordon Hayward’s Signing With Boston Celtics Reportedly Lands Marcus Smart on Trading Block

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The Boston Celtics got a whole lot better on Tuesday when All-Star forward Gordon Hayward committed to leaving the Utah Jazz for the reigning Atlantic Division champs. But not everyone in Beantown benefited from the blockbuster signing.

According to a report from the Norman Transcript’s Fred Katz, former Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart has now landed on the trading block as the Celtics look to clear out the max salary slot for Hayward, who agreed to terms on a massive four-year, $128 million max deal.

Here’s more details on the report from Katz and what it means for Smart.

“A source says Boston has already started contacting teams about picking up Smart, an Oklahoma State product who could be someone the Thunder appreciates. He’s a long, feisty, strong defensive stopper at either guard position who has improved as a pick-and-roll facilitator since entering the league, though he still struggles with his shot. And financially, a deal could work.”

ESPN also reports on Wednesday that the Celtics are “aggressively” trying to create salary cap space and have discussed trades involving not only Smart, but also Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder.

The Celtics essentially need to unload salary to clear enough cap space for Hayward. So instead of trading Smart for whatever his rightful value is on the market, they’d be dumping his salary to clear room for their new All-Star in Hayward.

Naturally, speculation about a fit for Smart in Oklahoma City makes plenty of sense. The Thunder has a $4.9 million trade exception they could wield to take in Smart’s salary without giving up assets. Plus, he’d be a formidable backup point guard – and an undeniable upgrade over Semaj Christon, who looked more like a D-leaguer than a backup to the MVP last season.

While Smart will likely have plenty of other suitors outside of OKC, the fit and financial situation make a lot of sense for both parties.

If the Celtics wish to retain their former top-10 pick in Smart, they would be required to dish out a qualifying offer worth $6.053 million in the summer of 2018 to make him a restricted free agent. In other words, Boston may not be willing to pay up, especially with Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley’s free agency looming large in 2018. Cutting Smart would allow them to be flexible on the market to potentially create enough space to pay their core in the future and potentially make a run at big-name free agents in the summer of 2018.

Smart averaged a career-best 10.6 points, 1.6 steals and 4.6 assists per game last season for Boston, who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals as the 1-seed before losing in five games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

 

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