2018 Boston Celtics offseason

So Indiana and Dallas both drafted guards, I wonder if this will limit their interest in Smart. My guess is that it won’t affect Dallas whereas, Indiana may be slightly less inclined to use their money there. KCP is an unrestricted free agent so he could be a teams primary target if they are looking for a defensive guard.

AND....Danny kept his powder dry...

He is the new Larkin, I suppose.

At this time thats not a bad bet. Though I'd rather Larkin. Might be Smart Insurance.

Could just be salary. I fully expect this deal to be just like Theis's deal. 2 years minimum deal, 2nd year non-guaranteed. Reports were speculating Larkin could cost more or move on for a better chance at more playing time.

I really don't think his scouting report has changed much. He can pass and shoot, but is a bad athlete, yet has a high basketball IQ. Those guys are a perfect fit for the Euro league. He won't be bad as end of the bench depth, I don't think he's Theis though either.

President Stevens didn't win COTY, NBA is rigged and 18-19 is all about revenge.

 Stevens day will come after they win the whole thing next year!

With reports saying Baynes is very likely to return. Only two other things to discuss.

Smart what do you do? Whats your limit in signing him?

Do you just hope he gets no offers and signs his QO? Do you sign him short-term like a two year deal or do you go full out giving him 4/5 years?

You are very limited in money if you assume Baynes basically gets the 5.2 he can get using his non-bird right over 2-3 years. Almost anything over his qualifying offer will take you over the luxury tax. Even if a team gave him a full mid-level deal it would be crazy close. Assuming the luxury tax is the red line I think it is. So for me unless your option is hope no one signs him, you would need to make a trade and Morris is the guy. I've always looked at it as Morris or Smart for this year. Looking at the market, after the top guys there isn't a ton of depth after Ariza in that next tier. Morris should have good value with that contract. Maybe that's Dannys plan keep Morris till the market dries up at that position, then make a move. While waiting to see what happens with Smart.

I do this because I'd like to keep Smart given the uncertainty of Irving and Rozier next year. I do feel he gets an offer. Also lets do right by Morris and get some future value for him. So I look at a bunch of contracts all starting at 2 years or more, for around 10 million. As much as I would like to keep him, thats always been about my limit. If he can get more good for him, enjoy your new team. I'd at least step to the table with options that were more than just sign your offer sheet. I get this feeling this is about 51% to 49% him staying compared to leaving.

Nader do you move on and look for an upgrade?

I say yes. Given this market I think you can get a very good player on the cheap.

I agree staying under the tax this year is key so they can abuse it down the line. It’s too early to start going over the tax, next year it’s necessary and as fans we should expect it, but the trade off is expecting them to stay under this year.

If you need to dump Morris’s contract to keep Smart then I’m fine with that.

In an ideal world he’s back here this year at the qualifying offer then we give him the extension next year. If tax wasn’t an issue, I’d give him between 12-15m per over 4 years. I think it’s reasonable, he’s valuable in Stevens system. We play better with him around and we can’t use the money else where as we will already be in the tax anyways and you can’t get a replacement for what he brings. Plus, it gives you a contact that isn’t that bad that gives some beef for a trade down the road. This all because of the way they are set up with their stars and because they won’t have cap space. If it was a team giving him that contract into cap space I would call them dumb unless it was a very unique situation.

It’s really hard to find a guy who brings what Smart does, like extremely hard. Guys with his shooting percentage don’t often survive in the league let alone get talked about as a 12-15m player. Hes special in what he does. Great perimeter defender is easish to get but a guy who can switch to literally any position and not be abused from the perimeter is special. He can guard 5s. Not suggesting he can do it all game long, but when it comes down to it he makes those guys work, he makes it hard on them.

Nah. It could easily be a "last few years achievement award"-type situation. Although I was very surprised to see how rarely the Coach of the Year comes from the NBA champion - just three times since 1973: Pop twice and Phil Jackson with the Bulls once.