Marcus Smart considered a foundational piece according to Ime Udoka
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In an interview with Zoland and Bertrand, Ime Udoka called Marcus Smart a “foundational piece” on the Celtics’ roster.
It’s no secret that fans all over Boston adore Marcus Smart. He fully embodies the Boston Celtics and plays with the heat and energy fans love to see.
He was drafted sixth overall by the Celtics in 2014 and has been a staple on the team ever since. However, there continue to be questions regarding his future with the team.
Smart is in need of an extension at the end of next season, leading some to believe that he could be traded. However, with this new statement from Udoka, Smart could be in Boston for a long time.
Udoka was introduced by the Celtics as their new head coach yesterday. Today, he calmed the nerves of Smart fans everywhere who were dreading the day he might be traded.
The big question now is how much Boston will have to pay him in order to keep him around. Smart’s current contract nets him $14.3 million next season. He could very likely earn more on the open market.
His elite defense and solid playmaking make him an ideal backcourt pairing for a ton of guards around the league. Putting him next to a player such as Luka Doncic or Zach LaVine would be perfect. The combination of offense and defense in those duos would wreak havoc.
The only way the Celtics could get away with underpaying is if Smart wants to stay in Boston and take a paycut. This is possible, but it’s tough to decipher where a player’s priorities lie.
Smart could earn anywhere from $15-$20 million in free agency next summer, so signing him to an extension should be a top priority if the Celtics want to retain him.
If Smart wants to stay in Boston, that number could drop to around $13-$18 million. That range would be ideal for the Celtics since they are already in a tough place financially. Re-signing Smart could prove to be too expensive, but if Udoka’s sentiment rings true for the rest of the organization, it could be a price Boston is willing to pay.
With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown ready to compete in the Eastern Conference, putting the right pieces around them is essential. If Smart can prove to be the franchise point guard many want him to be, re-signing him would be well worth it.
