Smith pretty much confirmed last night that, while the Celts would have been an intriguing option, it would have been difficult not to return to the Cavaliers, with whom he had his heart broken by the C’s in the playoffs.
“But, yeah, it would have been real hard (to pick the C’s over Cleveland), especially if things would work out where we would have to face each other again (in the postseason). That would have definitely been hard, because I developed some friendships on this team. We did some good things last year and took these guys to a Game 7. It would have been real difficult for me to put on the green jersey and then have to face these guys in the playoffs.”
“I actually thought that deal was already set,” said Celts coach Doc Rivers. “That’s why we were so cautious about it. We kind of knew what was going to happen.”
With the C’s needing size, they needed a commitment. Kevin Garnett called Smith to check in and take his temperature, but Smith wasn’t tipping his hand.
Asked if he suspected that Smith’s agent might have had a hand in directing his client back to Cleveland, Rivers said, “Yeah, with all of the dragging that was going on. And then we thought, ‘What the hell is going on.’ ”
Link: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bask ... e_Smith_1/
