Boston Celtics: Marcus Smart extension could lead to a big trade

Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

With a Beal signing now in question, does the Boston Celtics Smart extension make sense

This is no “capologist” writing here. But others who are more astute on these matters obviously think it puts a crimp in any such plans. So what’s the situation?

Now, no one outside of Causeway Street likely has an answer to that one. But one thing seems perfectly clear; the Boston Celtics aren’t likely to improve much with the same cast on hand.

First, extending Smart looks like a back to the future move. The Boston Celtics ostensibly are staying on course with their current core and nothing much changes, at least for 2021/22 or longer.

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Those are not good optics. The move has been seriously questioned and even the most ardent Celtics fans can’t help but be a bit perplexed at the “steady as she goes” course of the Boston Celtics.

This strategy can’t be looked at as anything other than more of the same that we saw with Danny Ainge under the new President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. And that’s not much.

This club is not anywhere near championship caliber and this extension, unless followed up by another deal, has this team looking exactly like what we saw under Ainge, nothing more, nothing less.

They certainly aren’t going to be championship contenders with the likes of the new champs, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Los Angeles Lakers among others.

Does the management and ownership of the Boston Celtics really feel they can now compete with the aforementioned teams and others who seem clearly better in overall talent than this club?

Hopefully, not. You have to believe there’s another plan afoot. Going into this season without a major shakeup is frankly unacceptable. Fans can’t be satisfied with that approach.