As the Boston Celtics pursue potential trades with the deadline coming soon, Marcus Smart has been a name that has floated around a lot the last couple weeks. At one point, it looked like a Smart deal was very realistic, but now as the trade deadline gets closer and closer it looks like the chances a deal will get done are unlikely.

The Denver Nuggets made point guard Emmanuel Mudiay available in trade talks over the last couple of days, and he was reportedly involved in this deal as Denver hoped to land Smart, but the Celtics really want a first round pick in return, something that was very unlikely to begin with.

According to Marc Stein of The New York Times, the Celtics really want to land a first round pick for Smart so that they can flip it for someone who can really bolster their bench like, say, LA Clippers guard Lou Williams or Grizzlies guard/forward Tyreke Evans.

Without that extra first round pick it seems like the Celtics are going to have a hard time getting one of those players in a deal, and they might be stuck with Smart as their best option.

Smart however has been held out of action since January 24th with a hand injury. Smart, frustrated with his recent play punched a picture on the wall at the team hotel and suffered a laceration on his hand that required 20 stitches.

When Smart has been playing this year, he has been a solid contributor for the Celtics. He is currently averaging 10 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game.

He has struggled from behind the arc, however, shooting only 29.9 percent from deep, and the Celtics need him to improve that once he gets back from injury, assuming he isn't dealt at the deadline.