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The Oklahoma City Thunder have expressed interest in acquiring Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, according to Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer. O'Connor noted that OKC's lack of assets might keep them from acquiring the hybrid guard, given the first-round return they have been hellbent in getting for his services.
The Thunder have recently come out of a four-game slump, grabbing a bar-measuring win against the Golden State Warriors on the road — a feat that can prove the turning point of this season and encourage the front office to be aggressive with only a day and some hours left before the trade deadline.
Smart suffered a self-inflicted injury last week, which will keep him away from basketball activities for two weeks, but once healthy, he presents one of the most versatile packages for a man at his size.
The 6-foot-4 Oklahoma State product is a bulldog defensively, eager to guard bigger bodies as well as smaller, faster players of great caliber. Despite being an erroneous shooter throughout his career, Smart brings an X-factor with his intensity and high-octane ability to play the game full-throttle at both ends of the floor.
Having missed Andre Roberson for the season with a ruptured patella, the Thunder will look for a similar perimeter hound to give them that extra dimension defensively and make up for his loss.
Smart is among one of the hottest free agents in the market, but the Celtics' high asking price is likely telling of their reluctance to let him go unless they get a king's random in return.
