Boston Celtics swingman Marcus Smart has been an important player for the team ever since he was drafted a few years ago.

This season is Smart's fourth with the Celtics, and he is averaging 10.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds, per Basketball-Reference. Those averages are very similar to his numbers last year.

But there has been some talk about the team possibly trading Smart before the trade deadline. Smart recently cut his hand after punching class in a team hotel, and part of the trade speculation has surrounded that incident.

But Smart said he is not bothered by the rumors, and does not think they have anything to do with his hand injury, per Chris Forsberg of ESPN.

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The reason for the rumors may have more to do with Jalyen Brown and Jason Tatum for than anything else. Those two players have played very well this season, and they are each younger than Smart.

Tatum especially has impressed the Celtics as a rookie this season, and has shown lots of upside for the future. Brown so far this season has shined in his role and proven that he was the right pick for the Celtics.

And now with Gordon Hayward on the team, the Celtics are stacked at the wing position. All those players can't all log significant minutes without one or more of them becoming frustrated about playing time.

So it appears the odd man out is Smart. And if he is, any team would be lucky to have him. He is a good player, especially on the defensive end, and he can make a good team even better.