Marcus Smart has undergone a transformation over the summer, slimming down, cutting out his fast food intake, and working alongside Chauncey Billups in order to help him for this increased role he's bound to have this season with the new-look Boston Celtics.
The hybrid guard is in a contract year and has yet to hear from the organization about a possible long-term extension.
“Me and my agent haven't heard anything from the Celtics,” Smart said Monday night after collecting 12 points, six rebounds and two assists in a 113-96 preseason win against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Jay King of MassLive. “And, like you said, a week (before) the deadline and everybody else out here, and you're seeing everybody else's numbers and things like that. So we're just kind of waiting.”
The wait game is about all Smart can do, with only six days left until the deadline and a massive amount of payroll committed to the likes of Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving over the summer.
“I would love to (land an extension),” Smart said. “I would love to. I love Boston. I was drafted here. I'm the longest-tenured Celtic. The city is great, this organization is great. I would love to be here. Like I said, we're just waiting.”
Smart can likely prove vital as an improved three-and-D prospect for the team, but if he isn't signed by the deadline, he will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, making him a likely priority for other teams to snatch away.
The 23-year-old has seen guys of his caliber like T.J. Warren sign a four-year, $50 million extension with the Phoenix Suns and most-recently Gary Harris landed a four-year, $84 million extension with the Denver Nuggets, with $74 million guaranteed.
Smart will only have made $14.8 million with the Celtics by the end of this season, but can't be looking at making his career earnings as an annual salary thanks to the skyrocketing revenue the NBA has pulled during the last few years.
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