The Boston Celtics have a boatload of young talent, and the latest pre-draft rumor surrounding involves second-year man Marcus Smart. Per ESPN’s Marc Stein, Boston GM Danny Ainge is willing to move Smart in exchange for a high pick in tonight’s draft.
In his first NBA season out of Oklahoma State, Smart averaged 7.8 points, 3.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting just 37 percent from the field. Smart also posted 1.5 steals per contest.
Whispers getting louder that the Celtics are willing to surrender prized guard Marcus Smart if it gets them in upper reaches of lottery
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 25, 2015
This is certainly an interesting development, as Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe stated earlier today that the Celtics would have to be “blown away” for Smart to be dealt.
Source says Celtics have indicated that to part with Marcus Smart they "would have to be blown away" by an opportunity.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) June 25, 2015
But that’s only the beginning of the rumors surrounding the Celtics and the draft.
According to SI’s Jake Fisher, the team offered Smart, big man Kelly Olynyk, plus the No. 16 and No. 28 picks in tonight’s draft to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that would have brought the No. 3 pick and Nerlens Noel to Beantown.
That’d certainly be a very involved deal, but one that could help both sides tremendously.
According to a league source, Celtics included Kelly Olynyk in their offer with Marcus Smart, No. 16 to Sixers for Nerlens Noel and No. 3.
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) June 24, 2015
Nothing new has happened in terms of trade developments involving Smart or the Celtics, but Campus Sports will update this story and all other draft rumors as more information becomes available.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
