Boston Celtics could decide to stand pat at trade deadline

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, and while Marcus Smart has been involved in many discussions, the Boston Celtics could decide to stand pat.

Marcus Smart will be a free agent this summer, and the Boston Celtics may have made him available at this seasons trade deadline. A few teams, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, have interest in Smart, but a deal may never happen.

Boston is said to be looking for a 1st Round Pick in a deal for Smart so that they could then flip that pick in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies for Tyreke Evans.

Things will have to come together quickly on Thursday if any of that is going to happen.

Instead, Boston could be content with standing pat and making a run at an NBA Finals appearance with the roster that they already have. The only addition then would be Greg Monroe, who agreed to sign with the team a few days ago. Boston would still be lacking a perimeter shooter, but they’ve proven they can win with the team they have.

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Kyrie Irving is a superstar, and Jayson Tatum may soon become one. Al Horford is the perfect leader for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown is stepping up as well. Even bench players like Terry Rozier are playing out of their mind this season. Rather than messing with chemistry in the locker room, the Celtics should keep what they have intact. In fact, Smart may even re-sign with Boston this offseason, so there is no need to sour the taste in his mouth at this point. He’s a key contributor, even though he makes some bone-headed mistakes at times. His antics are outrageous at times, but Boston fans love him.

This season, Smart is averaging 10.1 points and 4.7 assists per game. That’s right around his career average, and while it’s easy to want more, you have to like what he’s added to Boston. Smart also brings tough defense and a tenacious attitude to the court that cannot be replaced.

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So, the Boston Celtics may not make a deal on Thursday, and that’s okay. The team that is in place right now, is a team that can win the Eastern Conference for a chance at an NBA title. Marcus Smart can be a key contributor down the stretch, and his toughness will come into play at some point. I may be in the minority, but I really want the Boston Celtics to hold on to Marcus Smart, and every other player on the roster.