NBA free agency: Celtics re-sign Marcus Smart to 4 year, $52 million deal

The Celtics’ quest for their 18th NBA championship will continue with Marcus Smart chucking threes and leading the team’s defensive charge. The versatile guard will stay in Boston for the 2018-19 season and beyond after signing a four-year, $52 million deal with the club that drafted him No. 6 overall in 2014.

The deal is a bit of a letdown for Smart, who had previously pegged his own value at more than $14 million per year. Instead, he’ll have to settle for an average annual salary of $13 million; a number the Celtics were willing to pay despite the fact it will push the team’s salary cap number into the luxury tax for the following year.

While his raw numbers — roughly 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists per game — may not justify a $52 million deal, his versatility and playmaking are assets that no box score can truly measure. Smart’s strength, long arms, and athleticism make him a bully on the court who can defend four positions while adding value as a rebounder and distributor. While his shooting is still a major weakness — his 36.7 field goal percentage tied a career-high last season — his non-stop motor has made him one of the catalysts behind Boston’s revival.

What does this mean for the Celtics?

Smart was an important piece of the team’s run to the Eastern Conference finals and the only player with any real likelihood of defecting from Boston this offseason. The restricted free agent was courted by a few teams — the Kings, at least, explored the idea — but no major market materialized for the hard-nosed but inconsistent guard. That led him back to the Celtics at a salary both sides could feel good about.

It’s an important move to preserve continuity for a squad that ended its last season one game from its first NBA Finals appearance since 2010. Smart is a vital glue guy in Boston, a player who can come off the bench or serve as a spot starter without creating a dip in production. His willingness to handle any role coach Brad Stevens throws at him has made him a Swiss Army Knife who made his team a net 6.5 points better than opponents per 48 minutes last winter.

Retaining Smart gives the Celtics one of the deepest guard rotations in the league. He’s one of three players who can provide above-average play from the point, alongside Kyrie Irving and Terry Rozier. He’s also an effective insurance policy should Irving struggle with injury again in 2018-19 or Rozier depart for greener pastures when his rookie contract expires next summer.

But Smart’s flexibility means he’s not just a point guard, but also a fireballing wing and a point forward. At 30.1% shooting from three-point range and with the green light to let it fly (4.6 threes per game in 2017-18), he was enough of a deep threat to keep defenses from collapsing in on Boston’s big men or driving wings. Despite his horrible shooting, his team’s offense actually improves when he’s on the court. He’s an agent of chaos whose presence, somehow, manages to stabilize the Celtics — especially in the postseason.

What does this mean for Marcus Smart?

Smart may not have gotten the max-approaching contract he would have liked, but he’s still getting paid. The former Oklahoma State star will have made nearly $67 million in career earnings by the time his contract is up, and he’ll be just 28 years old when it comes time to negotiate his next deal. That gives him both security and flexibility while keeping him as a featured player on a winning roster.

The downside is that Smart’s path to a starting role will remain blocked by a stacked Celtics roster, forcing him to play super sub for another few years. That could hinder his value or hide his weaknesses, depending on whether or not his shot can unexpectedly improve after four seasons as a pro. The good news for the young veteran is that Stevens doesn’t need him to be a lights-out — or even average — shooter to make a positive impact, and that means Boston might just be the perfect setting for him.

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