The Hawks have expressed interest in Celtics guard Marcus Smart, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. Smart, who is one of the NBA’s stronger perimeter defenders, would be a nice fit in Atlanta’s backcourt alongside Trae Young, but Boston’s appetite for trading Smart is unclear.
At 21-21, the Celtics have had a disappointing season, but they’re still a playoff team and Smart plays a key role for the club. Boston likely won’t simply trade him for picks or prospects, so any deal that sends him to Atlanta would likely have to include a player like John Collins or Bogdan Bogdanovic, as Jared Weiss and Sam Amick of The Athletic write.
Speaking of Bogdanovic, in addition to drawing interest from the Celtics, he’s being eyed by a few other teams as well. Charania adds the Warriors to the list of players with interest in Bogdanovic, while Weiss and Amick say the Clippers are also on that list.
Here’s more on the Hawks:
- League sources with knowledge of the Hawks’ Collins trade discussions tell Weiss and Amick that there’s a “significant gulf” in how much Atlanta values the big man and how much teams are willing to give up for him. The fact that the Hawks only offered in the range of $90MM in extension talks last offseason has created the impression they wouldn’t go any higher than that this summer when Collins reaches restricted free agency, which isn’t the case.
- According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Hawks’ initial response to the Celtics‘ inquiries on Collins was to try to build a deal around Jaylen Brown, which was a non-starter for Boston.
- ESPN’s Zach Lowe estimates that the odds of a Collins trade this week are only about 30%, given how highly the Hawks value him and how badly they want to make the postseason. It would be difficult for the club to find a fair deal without taking a step back in the short term.
- Hawks wing De’Andre Hunter may return to action as soon as Monday night, sources tell Charania. Hunter has been sidelined since January 29 after undergoing meniscus surgery.
- Charania confirms that the Hawks are among the teams expected to pursue Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, which was first reported by Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer on Sunday.
Boston shouldnt move Marcus Smart
And why would the Hawks go after Ball in FA?
Because imagine ball playing next to shooters such as Young, Huerter and Bog
Bogdonavich for Oubre plus a pick? I think that might make some sense for both sides
Bog is making 18 mill AAV. Does that fit into a Golden state team that already has steph, klay and Wiggins all making 30+ next season
IDK what the hard cap number is, so I won’t speculate on that – but if it’s just a matter of luxury tax, then I think GSW will be willing to pay if they think a core of Curry-Klay-Bog-Wiggins-Draymond-Wiseman can compete for a ring over the next 2-3 seasons.
At this point Golden State doesn’t have much of a choice but to double down, IMO. Curry, Klay, and Dray are all in their 30s, might as well pay up now and go for it.
Tony Snell seems to be doing exactly what the Hawks would want from Smart. I don’t think he makes them significantly better.
Collins, Bogdanovich could be a big boost for the Celtics. I’d move Smart for those 2. Celtics need to loosen up a little on offense. They are playing too tight. Collins frees up Tatum, Bogdanovic will thrive in the Stevens offense.
Smart+Time Lord+Pritchard+2 firsts for Bog and Collins. If Hawks bite, Celts will have a massive upgrade on O.
Cs will keep their TPE for the off-season too
That’s a horrible trade for Boston. If Collins was a legitimate all star, then maybe… But he’s not there yet and may never be. With Williams emerging, PP being a solid, controllable young bench piece and Smart, an all nba defender and the heart and soul of the team, Danny wouldn’t make it home from the Garden if he agreed to this one.
Collins is at risk to be signed by another team over the summer as a free agent. There is no way Boston gives all of that up including taking on $18m per year from Bogy. This is one of the more one-sided and ill-advised trade ideas I have seen.
Ok Ainge, you can come out now
If the Hawks’ FO valued Collins so highly, then they wouldn’t be having discussions about trading him. He’s the one young player the current FO didn’t draft, and their enthusiasm for him has never been that high.
Of course, they’ll go higher in matching an offer sheet than they would on an early extension. Nobody should doubt that. But nobody should doubt that they’re trying to avoid having to.
Pretty sure JC was drafted in 2017, the same year Shlenk took over. He was his first draft pick.
I thought he was hired right before the draft, but Bud was still in place and ran that draft. Could be wrong.
Smart for JC is a clownish joke, right?
I mean JC is a star & Smart just a role player.
JB for JC now that is interesting… if BOS adds a young asset of pick it would be workable!
IMO Bogi can be had for a bag of peanuts… I mean I would even surrender a small asset to get rid of him, so if BOS is willin’ to give anythin’ for him then, please ATL, I beg of you send him there (can we throw Gallo in it just for a good measure as well)!
Almost feels like ATL has to do something but damn 8 game wining streak makes it touchy –
Just shipping Bogi away for free/expiring’s would be a substantial move while holding Collins thru Thursday