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

[Homerclease]

In fairness Marcus Smart has a really big issue going on in his life right now.

Oh absolutely. But it didn’t stop him from going to Vegas to meet with his agent. Obviously is mother is priority A, B and C but he’s also a professional basketball player. It’s just odd that we’ve basically heard nothing from Smart at all virtually all offseason given his motor and style of play

Were you at all concerned about Smart's off-season workouts last year?

I'm sure he's doing what he has to do behind the scenes. He's not a lazy guy.

No, because there were reports last year about him losing weight and being a new guy and spending hours upon hours in the gym. This year, nothing. I know Smart isn’t lazy which is why I find it odd that there’s been basically nothing public about his offseason workouts to date

[tombattor]

We see all these reports and videos of guys working out and getting better. Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Semi, Bird, Theis and Hayward on rehab. Where are the Marcus Smart videos of him in the gym working on his craft? He’s not in his 30’s like Al Horford. Radio silence in terms of actual basketball from the Smart camp

So they are only working hard, if you see the video of them working out? Ok buddy...

[Big Joke Line]

Is anyone not happy with Smart at 1/6? That is a great team friendly deal. I'm glad Ainge hasn't been forced to make a decision bc I think Smart is really valuable supporting piece to our championship hopes next year...

It is and at the right price Smart is worth keeping. Anything over 10 or 11m is an overpay.

I would definitely overpay to keep Smart. No one else on the team brings what he does. His shooting is atrocious, but that's why he's not commanding a max contract.

Why overpay for anyting? By it's definition it's a terrible move to overpay.

[Big Joke Line]

Is anyone not happy with Smart at 1/6? That is a great team friendly deal. I'm glad Ainge hasn't been forced to make a decision bc I think Smart is really valuable supporting piece to our championship hopes next year...

It is and at the right price Smart is worth keeping. Anything over 10 or 11m is an overpay.

I would definitely overpay to keep Smart. No one else on the team brings what he does. His shooting is atrocious, but that's why he's not commanding a max contract.

Why overpay for anyting? By it's definition it's a terrible move to overpay.

[tombattor]

In fairness Marcus Smart has a really big issue going on in his life right now.

Oh absolutely. But it didn’t stop him from going to Vegas to meet with his agent. Obviously is mother is priority A, B and C but he’s also a professional basketball player. It’s just odd that we’ve basically heard nothing from Smart at all virtually all offseason given his motor and style of play

Were you at all concerned about Smart's off-season workouts last year?

I'm sure he's doing what he has to do behind the scenes. He's not a lazy guy.

Seriously. What's wrong with people?

[Homerclease]

We see all these reports and videos of guys working out and getting better. Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Semi, Bird, Theis and Hayward on rehab. Where are the Marcus Smart videos of him in the gym working on his craft? He’s not in his 30’s like Al Horford. Radio silence in terms of actual basketball from the Smart camp

So they are only working hard, if you see the video of them working out? Ok buddy...

Did I say that? I just find it odd that with a usual gym rat like Marcus that there isn’t anything public out there

[Homerclease]

Oh absolutely. But it didn’t stop him from going to Vegas to meet with his agent. Obviously is mother is priority A, B and C but he’s also a professional basketball player. It’s just odd that we’ve basically heard nothing from Smart at all virtually all offseason given his motor and style of play

Were you at all concerned about Smart's off-season workouts last year?

I'm sure he's doing what he has to do behind the scenes. He's not a lazy guy.

Seriously. What's wrong with people?

Nothing wrong with me. This board is for discussion. Not to lecture people

[tombattor]

It is and at the right price Smart is worth keeping. Anything over 10 or 11m is an overpay.

I would definitely overpay to keep Smart. No one else on the team brings what he does. His shooting is atrocious, but that's why he's not commanding a max contract.

Why overpay for anyting? By it's definition it's a terrible move to overpay.

The term "overpay" is a relative term. So it depends on how one defines it. And if someone defines "overpay" as $10-11M for Smart, then I'm saying, I would pay more than that to keep him, if it necessary.

[tombattor]

Were you at all concerned about Smart's off-season workouts last year?

I'm sure he's doing what he has to do behind the scenes. He's not a lazy guy.

Seriously. What's wrong with people?

Nothing wrong with me. This board is for discussion. Not to lecture people

Well, the wrong is assuming that he's lazy because he's not posting videos of him working out on instagram.

[Edug27]

I would definitely overpay to keep Smart. No one else on the team brings what he does. His shooting is atrocious, but that's why he's not commanding a max contract.

Why overpay for anyting? By it's definition it's a terrible move to overpay.

The term "overpay" is a relative term. So it depends on how one defines it. And if someone defines "overpay" as $10-11M for Smart, then I'm saying, I would pay more than that to keep him, if it necessary.

Well, there's his market value.. and anything above that is an overpay.. right? Like the Bulls matched what LaVine was worth on the market.. so it's not an overpay in that sense.

Now whether or not his talent justifies that money is another story I guess.

[sully00]

I just couldnt help but notice the similarities between Celtics fans in the SMart thread and Rockets fans in the Capela threads..

Why cant anyone else understand that we made an offer and at this point we have zero reason to outbid ourselves? Like why is this so hard for other people to understand?

It depends what you want the outcome to be. I wouldn't compare Capela and Smart's situations directly. Capela will get more than 15 mil per year as an unrestricted FA and the increased cap space next season if continues to play at the same level. In his case you are not bidding against yourselves as much as bidding against next year free agency same way you offer an extension before RFA. If your good with him walking next year then your good with the Rockets sticking to their guns. The other concern for the Rockets if they genuinely want to retain the player but are just trying to do it at the lowest possible cost is that there is really nothing stopping teams from talking to his agent and telling them "I can't give the 100 mil offer this season but we can next year."

With Smart nobody appears interested in him at his price tag. I am not so sure how firm the 4 year 48 mil offer from Boston was or how accurate the details it was also offered in Oct and not does not appear to be a standing offer that he can accept right now. Clearly Boston's approach with Marcus right now is that we made you an offer you told us no you want to go to RFA instead. There is limited to no interest in him at his number or even the number Boston offered him in RFA. Now either he or his people are mad that Boston isn't actively engaged in his RFA because nobody else is.

So Smart is going to be left with three choices get the best offer sheet he can and force Boston to match, come back hat in hand and ask to try and work something out with the team that probably is going to be a lot less than what they offered in Oct. Accept the QO and hope to finally start to improve offensively and change the dynamic before next year's FA.

If Smart takes the QO then I expect Ainge to offer Rozier the extension and if he takes it will likely mean Marcus' role is going to be impacted as the team is going to view him as an expiring asset.

[Bill Bradley]

The most likely outcome of all of this is Smart will fire his agent. How unprofessional and wrongheaded can an agent be and remain employed?

[Froob]

Smart is probably Steph Curry in practice, he’s past that. Gotta make em in games.

[Froob]

The most likely outcome of all of this is Smart will fire his agent. How unprofessional and wrongheaded can an agent be and remain employed?

Should have joined Klutch. That’ll always guarantee you a job.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

The most likely outcome of all of this is Smart will fire his agent. How unprofessional and wrongheaded can an agent be and remain employed?

The fact that he's overestimated his client's worth twice is what's funny here. Nerlens Noel would have been overpaid had he taken the deal with the Mavs, and now he's stuck with OKC on a 1+1 deal. Happy Walters, right up there with BJ Armstrong in terms of incompetence.

[FlatearthZorro]

So much crow is going to be eaten.

In what sense? Smart getting something or not getting a thing? I believe he ain't getting a thing. QO or 10 mils a year.

In the sense that he is not a need or even a 6th man on a championship team.

Tbh, I said it before the season ended and will say it again, I'm over Smart and I agree with you I think most people here are overvaluing him grossly. If we bring a guy like Beverly or even Collison our offense would be much better on that 2nd unit. Marcus is so absurdly bad on offense.

[tombattor]

Why overpay for anyting? By it's definition it's a terrible move to overpay.

The term "overpay" is a relative term. So it depends on how one defines it. And if someone defines "overpay" as $10-11M for Smart, then I'm saying, I would pay more than that to keep him, if it necessary.

Well, there's his market value.. and anything above that is an overpay.. right? Like the Bulls matched what LaVine was worth on the market.. so it's not an overpay in that sense.

Now whether or not his talent justifies that money is another story I guess.

You're right. But what's the market for him right now? I don't think anyone knows. But I'm all for us matching whatever the other team offers him.

[tombattor]

In what sense? Smart getting something or not getting a thing? I believe he ain't getting a thing. QO or 10 mils a year.

In the sense that he is not a need or even a 6th man on a championship team.

Tbh, I said it before the season ended and will say it again, I'm over Smart and I agree with you I think most people here are overvaluing him grossly. If we bring a guy like Beverly or even Collison our offense would be much better on that 2nd unit. Marcus is so absurdly bad on offense.

Our defense will also get worse. We have guys that can score enough from guard position that we don't need whatever offense Beverly or Collison will bring. And even though Beverly is a good defender, he's not even close to being on the level of Marcus Smart.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

The most likely outcome of all of this is Smart will fire his agent. How unprofessional and wrongheaded can an agent be and remain employed?

I do wonder what the story is. Did his agent tell Smart not to take the Celtics offer last year because he could get more this year? Although Smart did come out and say he is worth more the 14m a year which to me is insane that he thinks that.

[Big Joke Line]

In what sense? Smart getting something or not getting a thing? I believe he ain't getting a thing. QO or 10 mils a year.

In the sense that he is not a need or even a 6th man on a championship team.

Tbh, I said it before the season ended and will say it again, I'm over Smart and I agree with you I think most people here are overvaluing him grossly. If we bring a guy like Beverly or even Collison our offense would be much better on that 2nd unit. Marcus is so absurdly bad on offense.

Also everyone here talks about culture they're trying to build, ie. move the ball on offense and no one ever mentions not only is Smart a high volume chucker he also pounds the rock into the paint when things break down. Hero ball isn't what the C's are about even if you are a hero. And he's not.