Throw in the Dallas Mavericks to the list of teams to make a run for the Marcus Smart sweepstakes, joining the Sacramento Kings, the Denver Nuggets, and the Indiana Pacers in a group that will try to pry the ace defender from the Boston Celtics, according to Mike Fisher of 247 Sports.
The Mavs are expected to explore the possibility of adding the scrappy defender this offseason, who could command as much as $12 million annually, according to the free agent market.
As a restricted free agent, the Celtics will hold the power to match any offer sheet he is signed to — a situation that can get rather expensive for a team that is already expected to have issues keeping some of their stars down the road.
Smart has been committed to returning to Boston, given that president Danny Ainge has said in multiple occasions that the team plans to retain him at all costs.
“I'm here,” said Smart. “They're already planning for me to be here. Those guys, I tip my hat to those guys. You don't see a lot of organizations that's as clear about their players as the way this organization does it.”
Yet Smart does feel like he's one of a kind, later saying he feels he's worth more than the $12 million annual tag he's expected to command in the free agent market.
“To be honest, I'm worth more than $12 to $14 million,” Smart told ESPN's Chris Forsberg. “Just for the things I do on the court that don't show up on the stat sheet. You don't find guys like that. I always leave everything on the court, every game. Tell me how many other players can say that.”on how he impacts games in ways that go beyond the box score.”
If the Mavs are willing to go above the range he's worth, it might just become more than what the Celtics can afford in the long haul.
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