Restricted free agent Marcus Smart has agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the Boston Celtics, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.
The 24-year-old was initially valued between $12-to-16 million annually and wound up getting a fair bit over the lower end, a hefty $13 million per year for his services.
Smart's market value was limited due to his shooting inconsistencies, bringing plenty of intangibles with his defensive presence and motor on the court.
The 6-foot-4 guard met with the Brooklyn Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies, but no offers were made, allowing the Celtics to remain patient and strike a deal in the 19th day of free agency.
The Celtics weren't willing to bid against themselves and played a patient game, awaiting to see if teams would step up to the table, but having waited nearly three weeks, they contacted his agent; Happy Walters, to really hammer out a long-term deal.
The $13 million could put the Celtics roughly $5 million into the tax this upcoming season, as the franchise is bound to face the damage of their long-term commitments next offseason even more, along with a pending decision to re-sign Kyrie Irving.
Smart averaged 10.2 points, 4.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals through 54 games last season and proved a catalyst after returning from a torn UCL in his right thumb in mid-March, aiding his team in a long postseason run.
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