Despite a devastating injury at a crucial time, the Boston Celtics will be ready to match any offers that come for soon-to-be restricted free agent Marcus Smart this summer.

Smart is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, which he sustained while diving for a loose ball during a start against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

Yet the Celtics will do everything in their power to keep the spark plug home, whether he's able to come back for the postseason or not.

According to Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald:

“Barring a blow-out-the-budget offer from another club, the Celts seem very much prepared to match anything Smart will attract in the marketplace. This summer’s market will clearly be softened by all the big contracts handed out after the new television deals spiked the salary cap. And that may yield only the mid-level exception (some $8.5 million for non-taxpaying teams, and somewhere in the $5 million-plus range for teams in the luxury tax).”

Smart has proven to be a vital piece for this team, thanks to his energy, hustle, and his ability to fill up the box score any night by doing different things on the court. He received plenty of interest following a self-inflicted laceration he suffered prior to the All-Star break, as Boston received many calls to gauge interest, even reportedly declining a first-round pick deal in exchange for him.

When asked about the chances to keep the hybrid guard for next season, president Danny Ainge remained positively noncommittal.

“I don’t know that. None of us know that,” he said. “I hope so. I’m a big fan.”

The Celtics have shut down Kyrie Irving for the week, nursing knee soreness; and now only have the likes of Terry Rozier and Shane Larkin to run point until Irving's impending return.

Irving will eventually need surgery to clean up discomfort in his injured knee, making Smart that much more vital to this team, as the backup point guard.