Marcus Smart and the NBA trade deadline are akin to Santa Claus and Christmas Eve in the sense that the person is always associated with a date on the calendar. The Boston Celtics' defensive stalwart has been a part of countless trade rumors over the years.

The latest trade Smart is rumored to be part of comes from Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, who said that the Celtics nearly traded Smart to acquire Cam Reddish from the Atlanta Hawks before the New York Knicks could. Smart also would have netted Boston an additional young player.

Before Atlanta sent Reddish to New York, the Hawks and Celtics discussed a framework that would have swapped Marcus Smart for Kevin Heurter and Reddish, sources said. It's unclear how far that dialogue progressed.

Getting two young pieces for an established defensive star would have signaled a soft reset for the Celtics. The Knicks, though, ended up acquiring Reddish.

Fischer added that an opposing team would have to give Boston “significant value” in return for Smart.

But it will take significant value in return, sources said, for Boston to ever part with Smart. There's still a sense around the league that a healthy Celtics unit could fare far better down the stretch of this regular season than Boston's early growing pains under head coach Ime Udoka have so far produced.

Boston getting back into the playoff picture in the second half of the season is possible. Championship contention, though, is likely not going to happen, barring a huge trade.

Although he has never made an All-Star team, Smart has been a huge piece of the Celtics for a while. His abrasive leadership has fallen out of favor amidst a faltering team, though. It could lead to him landing on a new team.