According to Chris Forsberg of NBCS Boston, the Sacramento Kings asked for Marcus Smart as part of the package for veteran wing Harrison Barnes in recent negotiations. Clearly, those initial overtures were rejected, although there is still time left for the two teams to re-engage and hammer out an agreement, especially if the Celtics miss out on Aaron Gordon.
Sacramento being interested in a player of Smart's caliber should come as no surprise, especially when considering the recent reports that Monte McNair has been unenthused by Boston's reported offers of young players and first round picks. For the Kings, Smart would represent the exact kind of bull-headed, refuse-to-die defender that they have been missing since the days of Ron Artest, and he could also step in as an immediate replacement stopper on the wing, although he's more of a 1-2-3, as opposed to Barnes' 3-4 role.
Some may view such a maneuver as a win-now move, rather than a reset around De'Aaron Fox, but Smart is also nearly two years younger than Barnes, having recently turned 27, slightly younger than potential core piece Richaun Holmes. He's currently locked up through the 2021-2022 season, due to make a hair over $14 million next year, and his difference in salary from Barnes would grant the Kings plenty of room to re-sign their starting center this offseason.
Of course, there is a concern that Smart could walk after next season, as he's scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, but the Kings could offer him an extension this summer, and they would also inherit his full bird rights, allowing them to go over the salary cap to retain his services in the future. And even if Sacramento lost Smart to another team, a year-and-a-half of his culture-setting ways could do quite a bit for a team lacking in winning habits.
Boston's disinterest in moving Smart is understandable, but General Manager Danny Ainge has to be feeling the pressure to make a move at the deadline, as the Celtics have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season. He has the power to acquire nearly any player in the league with his massive traded player exception from the Gordon Hayward trade, which allows the Celtics to take in a huge amount of salary without sending any money back to another team, but the Kings and Celtics could potentially work around that concept.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report recently shared that the Celtics are considered the top suitor for Kings forward Nemanja Bjelica, and he also mentioned that Boston would consider adding Bjelica to a Barnes deal, or they may trade for him separately. If that is, in fact, the case, and if Smart is truly on the block, the two teams could come to an agreement without involving Boston's coveted TPE. Tristan Thompson has somewhat worn out his welcome with the Celtics, and a basic package of Harrison Barnes and Nemanja Bjelica for Marcus Smart and Tristan Thompson works perfectly salary-wise, while the two teams would still likely need to quibble about any other sort of compensation going either way. Danny Ainge could reset his roster and save his TPE for the offseason, while the Kings could add a hopeful core piece in Marcus Smart.
The two organizations are running a bit short on time to work out a deal, as the NBA trade deadline expires on Thursday afternoon at noon Pacific Time.
Smart for Barnes would be a fair trade, which is why I assume that Ainge won’t consider it.
I do love his game, and his leadership. Saying he’d be a good fit here is a bit silly, since players like him fit anywhere, but that would be a real win if Barnes is to go.
Your other idea of including Bjelica and Thompson also makes a lot of sense from our perspective, but I would think that the Celtics would also see the benefit.
One day left!
Smart for Barnes straight across would not be a good move for the Kings.
Ehh..what more would you want?
Add Nesmith or their 1st
“I would like the trade to be very lopsided in the Kings’ favor.”
Amen…
I agree, we would need another asset coming back
Agreed. Thompson does little for me.
It also creates an easier path to retain Holmes:
Agreed. If we don’t draft Luka because of Fox, don’t see why we trade for Marcus Smart. That would be a deal straight from the Department of Redundancy Department.
Screw it .. it’s Time .. Blow it up .. Bagley for Luka straight up .. make it happen!
https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=barneha02&p1yrfrom=2021&player_id2=smartma01&p2yrfrom=2021
Straight up trade? Plus less team control…No way
Curious what we’re comparing here? I think overall they are pretty even (as far as impact), but Smart’s younger and less expensive.
You left out the most important part, Better? No. Also not much younger and not much less expensive.
To be precise, two years younger and about $6 million cheaper next season.
Nobody knows how much Ainge’s desperation (if there is any desperation) adds in here, but I bet most GMs see Smart as a better basketball player/asset than Harrison Barnes.
I guess it depends on how you view the value of these contracts. I doubt Smart would be thrilled to come to the Kings and then you’re faced with a contract decision after next season. So at that point can you sign him (should you want to) for less than $18 mil which is what Barnes will be making. Idk Smart is a little younger but he looks like he has more mileage on that body, just a subjective observation on that one.
To be fair, you’d be hard-pressed to find any player in the league who wouldn’t be disappointed about being traded to the Kings. That shouldn’t be even thought about when analyzing trades.
True for the most part but I can tell you for sure Aaron Gordon would be thrilled to come to Sacramento. I don’t think KHFC has enough in her trade proposal to get Aaron but I think the two combined trades are the right line of thinking.
I’d disagree. Barnes is having by far the best season of his career and it’s merely “above average”. Which isn’t too impressive considering what we’re paying for that privilege. I’d take mediocre offense, younger, cheaper and upgraded defense any day.
This argument is really superfluous because Barnes for Smart straight across isn’t going to happen. Ainge I think wants roster improvement now for a stretch run. Throwing Smart out there is just gorilla dust IMO. I think he’s likely to part with Langford, Nesmith and his first round pick. All assets that don’t affect his current roster. See my prediction.
Check that smart defense this year. Don’t just go on previous experience
I think most metrics would show Smart as still a plus defender, although that Boston defense has been disappointing overall.
Barnes has the third most minutes played on a roster that has been arguably one of the worst defenses in modern NBA history.
It’s interesting that this is the case, and yet the Kings aren’t at the absolute bottom in Net Rtg (at least according to B-Ref, I haven’t checked NBA.com) because their offense isn’t so horrible they can’t win. Does Harrison Barnes deserve any credit for any of that?
I would cool it with these cherry picked stats. I could say this lineup Fox, Buddy, Haliburton, Barnes, Holmes has a very positive net rating so Barnes must be adding something to the overall performance. What do all these defensive metrics mean in a vacuum. Defenses switch constantly and to measure one on one is very difficult. I don’t need stats to tell me Buddy’s off ball defense is beyond atrocious and Bagley’s is a big time work in progress. When I watch, edge to Smart on Defense but edge to Barnes on most aspects of offense.
Haliburton appears to have some potential at the defensive end, but Hield and Fox both are pretty terrible in most aspects of individual and team defense. Smart would help in that regard, especially if we could move Hield.
i agree with you regarding Haliburton and Smart.
Was just focused on the defense, but no argument that Barnes has played well this season.
Barnes also played a lot with buddy and Bagley, horrific defenders
Barnes plays a lot with everyone. Again, he’s third in minutes on the roster (and not far behind Fox and Hield in that category).
I was comparing to whom smart plays with, not within the kings roster
Far less effective offensively, plays a position we are more established at than barnes, smarts defense has fallen off some and can’t guard guys that barnes can. Smart not as healthy, contract coming up sooner without rights.
Big fat ass no from me if it’s straight up
Your first point is well taken, however our roster doesn’t really need him for his offense. And I’m not certain I’d agree that his defense has fallen off (from any type of mileage/physical issues). The Kings would have his Bird Rights as well (per the article).
This would require moving on from Buddy, and hopefully McNair will figure out a way to make that happen. But there’s 96 minutes in the backcourt, and I’d be perfectly happy going forward in the future with Fox/Hali and Smart eating the bulk of those minutes.
You’ve stated many times that buddy is untradable.
So how do you square idk near 50% of cap or more invested in just the two guard spots?
It doesn’t make sense to flip them straight up unless we get a real additional asset
wut
another data point that suggests this team is threading the needle. Also, if the Kings were to trade for Smart, then they could move Buddy to the super 6th man role he’s ultimately destined to fulfill.
at this point Buddy is just a chucker to me. being on the 2nd unit would get him more of his favorite thing:
Shots shots shots shots shots
Shots shots shots shots shots
Shots shots shots shots shots
Shots
he did not do that when he was the 6th man last season. He played some of his best basketball in that role.
I agree with that.
and 2 years ago he played even better than last year. IMO he peaked already and can no longer shoot anything but 3s effectively. He surely can’t/won’t defend against starting nba guards. I don’t know how much of his regression to being only a 3 point threat is coaching/scheme related but to me that’s what he has become.
honestly, I believe Buddy just has a mindset issue. He’ll be productive as soon as he accepts his role.
Aw – you’ve solved it, he can’t and doesn’t understand defense because he won’t accept his role. Man, that’s a beauty.
huh?
They could already move him to that role…
Because … he was totally all for it last year?
There is no scenario in which Buddy will willingly play sixth man on a team coached by Luke Walton.
I mean I doubt he’ll just hold out and get fined instead.
Or Dave Joerger. Or whoever the next coach is. Time to move on from Buddy.
Finally some evidence that Monte is a Smart guy!
This is the kind of deal I can get behind. I wasn’t very enthused with the other offers I was hearing about but getting back Smart would be something Kings fans would absolutely love.
With that being said, Boston says no.
Yeah, I’m curious what else would need to go along with a Barnes for Smart deal.
As am I, actually.
If we gave more then we got robbed
Yeah…fuck that. WE do the robbing!
No???ð¤·ï¸
SOME Kings fans … not me … because I live over here in Reality World, where we don’t need two point guards (three, counting Hali) and then would have to fill a gaping hole at small forward.
Yep!
Kings would have been fleeced again if Vlade is still the GM!
So I think the Kings want to make a deal but they also want to stay in a position to make a run at a playin spot. I also think Boston is trying to get relevant this year. My prediction.
Celtics get Bjelica, Barnes and Whiteside
Kings get 2021 first round pick, Nesmith, Langford and Thies
Kings then trade first round pick, Guy, Landford, and a second for Gordon.
I don’t think Ainge gives up Smart or anything that weakens the roster. This trade allows him to improve his roster significantly without giving up anything contributors from his current roster. The Kings get younger, a little cheaper and still feel they have a roster that can compete for a playin spot.
Langford is not now nor will ever be a decent NBA player ! He was terrible with the G league , Maine Red Claws !
I think you’re close on this but I’m not sure that’s enough to snatch Gordon from Orlando. They would however go into the offseason with Fultz, Cole, Langford, Issac, Vucivic, 2 first round picks and some cap space. Who knows?
I would love this move. It will show how desperate Danny Ainge is if he lets Smart go. He seems to be the anchor of that team.
My prediction is Barnes ends up in Boston and the Celtics keep Smart.
Do Ainge and the Celtics face some pressure to use all or some of the trade exception by March 25? Sure. You can’t hold any asset that rates as the biggest in NBA history without focusing extra interest on what becomes of it.
Add Boston’s lackluster performance that has them barely above .500 and flirting with a lower playoff seed, with the much loftier expectations for this group, and fans expect to see some moves, now or certainly before the exception slips away.
terrible deal if we don’t get an additional asset
Marcus Smart as part of the package…
This is not talking about a one for one trade, this is talking about Marcus Smart being a part of the deal.
Smart would be great for this team.
The other part of that package could be Tristan Thompson’s deal.
I just remembered that the Kings actually offered Smart a contract a couple years back. Did he accept it and get matched or was he using us to get a better deal? I cant remember…
depends on what sources you believe. https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2018/07/boston_celtics_marcus_smart_no_3.html
jason jones says we never offered him anything
Look at the date. I don’t believe Jason Jones still works for the Bee, but I might be mistaken on that point. Also, I don’t believe it’s January 2019 either. But I also might be mistaken on that point as well.
jones works for the Athletic not the bee. the date is from when Smart was a FA. im not sure what points you are making?
I misread your comment and the reply it was to. My bad.
I don’t mind this trade on paper but man, Marcus Smart is one of those players the makes my soul die a little bit every time I watch him play. His signature move of “covering the jewels and cheesing a charge call” is every bit as infuriating as Harden’s leg kicks.
This would make the Kings a much better defensive team and I think Holmes-Bagley?-Smart-Hali-Fox is probably a decent line-up so I guess I can live with it. I’ll even try to pretend that he isn’t a flop artist.
I would not pull the trigger on a straight up Barnes for Smart trade. Now if we also added an asset like Nesmith or the Bos 1st then sure. Straight up Barnes for Smart doesn’t move the needle and he is under shorter team control.
Plus his known commodity of defense has been non-existent on his current stretch of games since returning to the lineup
Yeah straight up makes absolutely no sense for the Kings.
I”d be careful about this Nesmith call. I have not seen enough of him to make an educated call but keep in mind he can’t break into the lineup and someone who was drafted below him is getting decent minutes.
They play different positions, that matters a ton.
You don’t judge Nesmith on his production or lack thereof during his rookie year sitting behind two all-stars.
If your referring to Tatum, I think you need to research Nesmith a little more. Nevertheless, the all stars are pretty versatile players so if the Celtics felt Nesmith had something to offer, they’d find minutes for him.
If you don’t think both slot in minutes at the 3 I don’t know what to tell you
This positional distinction argument you’re trying to make is really outdated thinking and meaningless. If you however want to play this archaic game, Pritchard plays off ball a lot and had to earn playing time among Walker, Teague, and Edwards, and throw in Nesmith because when Kemba is on the court, when Stevens makes his choice between Nesmith and Pritchard he’s not thinking about Brown and Tatum he’s thinking about playing his better player.
the Stevens understander has logged on
The numbskull fan with nothing of substance has just commented.
Well thank you. Those Lady Braves know their basketball.
lol do you think you’re replying to the actual Kayte Hunter?
Replying to someone who knows a hell of lot more about basketball than you. That’s a pretty easy call.
huh?
That’s the deepest post you’ve had in a long time
thank you
Edwards is trash and teague us a vet min dude.
C’mon man, you’re too easy
He’s averaging 15mpg despite playing behind Smart, Brown, and Tatum. He’s looked good so far. I’d be happy to get Nesmith back.
He’s appeared in 22 games and Pritchard has appeared in 37 games. The only games Pritchard hasn’t played in were due to injury. Heretofore Pritchard has been the preferable option over Nesmith and it’s not even close. You could continue to play the meaningless positional argument if it makes you feel better but so far there’s something Stevens is seeing in Nesmith that is giving him pause especially during meaningful minutes. With that said, I haven’t seen enough of Nesmith to personally judge and neither have you but we can certainly say he’s not knocking it out of the park with the Boston brass so far.
if you haven’t seen enough of Nesmith to personally judge, then maybe avoid assuming everyone else is in the same boat.
Well tell us about him. I guess you’ve been watching the Celtic practices.
yeah I’m there every day with my dunkin’ iced coffee, listening to Dropkick Murphys, and yuckin it up with Brian Scalabrine. you’re missing out TBH.
And eatin’ some wicked chowdah
Pp is not the preferred option over nesmith bro….nesmith isn’t a pg facilitator
For a coach you don’t understand the nba game much, this isn’t your d3 hs league where positions don’t matter
You’re caught in a paradigm, I can’t help you anymore. Why don’t you break down Nesmith’s game for that rordog. He needs help.
That paradigm where successful nba teams still have a facilitating guard, some wings and a big on the court almost at all times? Yeah I’m there…
I see Boston pulling the trigger for Barnes before the deadline but I don’t see them trading Smart for it.
This is likely an Ainge leak to drive up the value of Smart in a Gordon deal.
It feels as though Monte is bargaining from a position of power and asking a lot back. I like that.
Pure speculation here but Smart does not want to be in Sac and would almost certainly leave after this season. He seems like the type of guy who would take a paycut to be on a championship team – his focus is winning. Would he really want to come off the bench for the kings? I’m just not seeing it.
He’s got another year on his contract after this one. That aside, I think worrying about that type of thing should be way down the list of considerations.
If the team improves the roster (and coaching staff), this type of thinking will change.
I remember another player who didn’t want to be in Sacramento and threatened to sit out the remaining three years of his contract until we called his bluff.
Papa Mayce was pretty important in helping IV get off the pot after taking his shit, too, or so I’ve seen it said anyway.
My point is that it was both, ultimately.