Marcus Smart is reportedly available for a first-round pick: Woj
Marcus Smart reportedly 'available' for first round pick, according to @wojespn: https://t.co/fzPPtwwoPq pic.twitter.com/q4x8tSyJWr— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) February 3, 2018
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported in the latest edition of the Woj Pod that Marcus Smart may be had for a first round pick - and that he anticipates his value to be around $8-10 million per year on his next deal:
"Marcus Smart, he’s a player that’s available for a first round pick. If a team was willing to give Boston a first, Boston would look at [that]. If they didn’t have to take back a lot of money going out in the future. He’s restricted this summer, you don’t know what it will cost to keep him."
While the latter is exactly where I pegged his contract, I have to say I am earnestly surprised by this news, if Woj is not speaking of a high lottery pick. With so few teams having cap this and next season, it seemed logical to retain the soon-to-be restricted free agent, with the hope of locking him up on a cheap long-term deal that could also be useful to package in a larger trade down the road.
It's quite possible that Terry Rozier's recent play is another major factor behind this intel, but more likely than not it's just Danny Ainge chumming the trade waters before the deadline really heats up, or a warning to stop punching things - or both. Should Ainge flip Smart for the right package, if it at least involves a first-round pick? What would be a good target, if so? Give us your best-case scenario in the comments below, even if it's no trade at all.
