The Boston Celtics will suspend guard Marcus Smart for Friday's road preseason game against the Miami Heat after breaking team rules.

Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, Smart and the team have “discussed” and “resolved” the matter.

 

Celtics head coach Ime Udoka clarified that Smart violated a newly-instituted personal role of his. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Smart missed the team's flight to Orlando.

The 27-year old has appeared in two of the Celtics' preseason games thus far, shooting 30.8% from the field in 25.3 minutes per game. Smart averaged a career-high 13.1 points per game on 39.8% shooting in 48 outings last season.

In August, the Celtics re-signed the eight-year veteran to a four-year, $77 million contract. He was selected to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team in 2018-9 and 2019-2020. Smart has spent his entire career in Boston.

While Smart's suspension seems like a minor matter, the Celtics could use some smooth sailing through the rest of training camp. Earlier this week, center Al Horford joined All-Star Jaylen Brown in COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Udoka — who was placed in COVID-19 protocols before training camp — is cautiously optimistic that Brown and Horford can play in the team's season opener against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Smart is projected to be the Celtics' starting point guard this season — returning to the role in which he starred at Oklahoma State. The team signed Dennis Schroder to a one-year, $5.9 million contract in free agency.