Jackie Mac on Marcus Smart's RFA--"He's going for the money"

[AzogTheDefilier]

I am not sure there are enough minutes for him anyway once Hayward, Irving and Theis return. You still have to feed Al, Tatum, Brown and Scary Terry. I'd do a sign and trade with him but that is about it.

... Theis?

Theis should be concerned with Smart taking his minutes, not the other way around.

If Baynes doesn't return then who backs up Al? Not Smart.

[dynasty2018]

With Rozier you know what you are getting. Sure, he has been worse on road but to be fair he has less than 1/2 a season under his belt as a starter. He is also getting better and better. It’s no contest who I would rather have next year if given a choice between Marcu at 12-15 million or Rozier at $3 million. If the choice is Marcus for 1 year at 6 million and trading Rozier for a lottery pick or Marcus QO and keeping Rozier..... that is tougher.

If you could sign Marcus for 3/21, then his value as a glue guy and team fit vs. Rozier who is really a starter and will look for job and money after next season makes sense.

It hurts to admit it but every year there is an early second rounder like Bell for example who brings as much game as Marcus. I would never pay him.

Marcus Smart has had a very tough year in his personal life. His mom is sick and perhaps he lost his mind over a girlfriend. I still don't know why he punched the picture frame. I remember him as much better at pg skills which made his poor shooting tolerable since he is clearly hall of fame for defense. He should be at 3:1 by now for assists to turnovers. He is going in the wrong direction.

[darrendaye]

Smart's value defensively tends to get understated at times in these arguments/discussions. His size, toughness, aggression, anticipation and instincts allow him to be a neutralizer in instances when the opponent has a mismatch to exploit elsewhere in the rotation. We've seen him help slow down guys like Blake Griffin and Portzingis, not to mention a plethora of guys at the 1-3. And even against teams that don't have mismatches to attack, he's a guy who you can insert to give a defensive respite to Jaylen Brown, particularly, who is tasked with defending the other team's biggest perimeter threat. This will allow Brown to save energy on one end and better positioned to increase the activity on the offensive end.

There may come a time when Semi could be considered an adequate proximity in this role, but, he just doesn't make enough plays yet.

[TheTruth316]

Contraire! Dumbs defense is way over hyped, and over rated. He can be very good or putrid. How people after watching game4, and 3 can be supportive of him is head scratching.

[Feed Your Head]

Contraire! Dumbs defense is way over hyped, and over rated. He can be very good or putrid. How people after watching game4, and 3 can be supportive of him is head scratching.

Dumbs? Are you 12 years old? And its not overrated because they're an elite defensive team when he plays, and average when he doesn't.

[tfmiii]

Zach Lowe's last podcast: 11/38 29%

There aren't enuf hustle plays to offset that stat, never mind the TOs, which always seem to be of the live ball variety

I love Smart's attitude and grit but OUCH!

[FlatearthZorro]

If someone pays him 14-20 million they will likely regret it. It would be sad to lose him. But he can’t be counted on consistently.

more than 12 mils would be awful. he's very challenged offensively for the most part, I'm not hating, I just don't see how you can pay a guy who can't shoot in today's league so much.

[Wes-J]

Poor offensively player? Ha.

Not the most efficient offensive player to say the least but he creates offense with good instincts and ability to run PnR. Elite hustle and defense creates extra possessions which lead to more offense. Can't accurately quantify his value. This ain't rocket science folks.

+/- beast means he's having a net positive impact on winning and tends to have the knack for hitting clutch shots. You can switch him on almost any player on the floor and never have to sweat.

Really don't get what's not to understand. 4yrs 60mill all day long, ain't nothing to think about.

[darrendaye]

If someone pays him 14-20 million they will likely regret it. It would be sad to lose him. But he can’t be counted on consistently.

more than 12 mils would be awful. he's very challenged offensively for the most part, I'm not hating, I just don't see how you can pay a guy who can't shoot in today's league so much.

Agree with this range. As I've stated a couple of times already, I'm all for keeping him, but, there is a price that it becomes too costly. The Thunder set a benchmark last year with Roberson. That value was probably still inflated by 15-20% due to the cap bump, but, with Smart able to contribute as a ball-handler moreso than Roberson, $11-12MM would be my absolute line in the sand too.

In any event, I'd be looking to replace his role in future drafts with intent to trade him elsewhere.

Look, if they lose Smart in the off-season, I don't want to read the whining about all the minutes Semi gets next year.

[TheTruth316]

Comedian watch the game. Don't believe the hype, as I said he either makes a great play or two but games like 3and4 of the playoffs are to many!

Dumbs. Lol

[Feed Your Head]

Comedian watch the game. Don't believe the hype, as I said he either makes a great play or two but games like 3and4 of the playoffs are to many!

Dumbs. Lol

They are much better defensively with him on the court, this isn't opinion, it's a fact. Stop acting like a child with the dumbs garbage.

[mbsnmisc]

I have thought all along that MS signs a 3+1 at 9 million a year. Basically the Avery contract. I also think he gets his 28-30 minutes a game next year because DA moves TRIII and future picks in a consolidation trade.

[TheTruth316]

Your opinion is different than mine. I happen to be right. Lol. Such great defense I saw from dumb and dumber..

[Fencer reregistered]

Does anybody think that an injured, bandage thumb might be affecting Smart's shooting?

[Edug27]

Does anybody think that an injured, bandage thumb might be affecting Smart's shooting?

Was he a better shooter before the injured, bandaged thumb?

[Feed Your Head]

Your opinion is different than mine. I happen to be right. Lol. Such great defense I saw from dumb and dumber..

I wasn't talking opinion, it's a fact. Just take the L like a champ. And please stop with the posts calling him Dumbs, because that's exactly what it makes you look.

[Fencer reregistered]

Does anybody think that an injured, bandage thumb might be affecting Smart's shooting?

Was he a better shooter before the injured, bandaged thumb?

Yes. His playoff 3pt % is his worst ever, after improving in previous seasons. His playoff 2pt % has actually been dropping ever year anyway, and that has continued.

11-54 is a bad playoff 3pt shooting result even by Smart's low standards.

[Jammer]

There are quite a few delusional posts in this thread.

Let's be clear, if you are third string at a position, Ainge pays MINIMUM.

Kyrie and Rozier will get all the PG minutes. Larkin will probably play for minimum elsewhere simply because he'll know the probability of him playing next season will require one of Kyrie or Rozier to miss a game. Ditto Marcus Smart as a PG. Smart's current 30 mpg in the playoffs will go to Kyrie.

Jalen Brown will still play at least 32 mpg at SG, if not more. And one of Kyrie or Rozier will take a good part of the remainder. So unless Smart can be signed for a bargain price, he likely will be playing elsewhere. But with a tight market this summer, his market value might be a lot less than some have suggested.

Smart also plays some SF, but Tatum and Hayward will absorb that. The 29 mpg that Marcus MORRIS plays will go to Gordon Hayward.

[Edug27]

Does anybody think that an injured, bandage thumb might be affecting Smart's shooting?

Was he a better shooter before the injured, bandaged thumb?

Yes. His playoff 3pt % is his worst ever, after improving in previous seasons. His playoff 2pt % has actually been dropping ever year anyway, and that has continued.

11-54 is a bad playoff 3pt shooting result even by Smart's low standards.

20% shooting in 20 games.. I’m sure he’s had 20 game stretches like that several times in the past. Thumb or not, dude can’t shoot.

[Scoonie]

Smart would be dynamic as a defensive specialist off the bench for 12-24 mpg guarding the opposing team’s best scorer. He would never take more than 8 field goal attempts per game.

Unfortunately I doubt that he would accept a role like that long-term.