At the beginning of NBA free agency, it looked like Marcus Smart and the Boston Celtics might be headed towards a breakup. Instead of a breakup, Smart will be spending the next four seasons with the Celtics after signing an extension four-year, $52 million according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Celtics weren't showing a ton of interest towards Smart early in free agency, but according to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Smart was a top priority this offseason.
“Keeping Marcus in a Celtics uniform was a top priority, and we’re excited to have accomplished that. His intensity is unmatched and the level of toughness that he brings to the team through the course of the entire season is second to none.”
Danny Ainge: “Keeping Marcus in a Celtics uniform was a top priority, and we’re excited to have accomplished that. His intensity is unmatched and the level of toughness that he brings to the team through the course of the entire season is second to none.”
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) July 19, 2018
Smart getting the extension done was a big win for him, as he didn't actually have any formal offers from other teams and he was an unrestricted free agent.
The Celtics could have just waited for Smart to sign the $6.1 million qualifying offer, but it's clear they wanted him in a green and white uniform for the long haul. Smart said in a statement this is where he wanted to be.
“This is where I want to be, and I'm ready to put a green jersey back on and get to work,” Smart said in a statement. “I'm determined to help my teammates bring another championship to the best fans in the world.”
This deal will also put Boston in the luxury cap for the next season unless they decide to shed some salary.
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