The Boston Celtics wasted no time this offseason when it came to shaking up its roster after a disappointing 2020-21 NBA season. Days after taking over for Danny Ainge in the front office, Brad Stevens traded away starting point guard Kemba Walker.
Walker was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, along with the team’s 2021 first-round pick and a future second-round pick, in exchange for Al Horford and a future second-round pick. It was a signal from Stevens that he would be aggressive when it came to retooling the roster this offseason.
With Walker out of town, the team is now in need of a starting point guard. Veteran Marcus Smart and Payton Pritchard could likely handle the point guard duties themselves, but adding another player to the mix makes sense. Could Smart himself be used to help land that point guard?
Rumors were leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline that Smart was garnering interest. Those rumors are likely to pick back up this offseason, as Smart only has one year left on his deal and the Celtics may not be able to afford him in free agency next summer.
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While it would hurt to lose a glue guy like Smart, the Celtics may be able to reload and retool the roster around their two max players, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. If that opportunity presents itself, they will have to seriously consider doing it.
Which teams could be interested in Marcus Smart should he be made available? Here are three contenders that should pursue the former Oklahoma State product this offseason.
