The Boston Celtics front office is in communication with Marcus Smart’s representation as the two sides are working on the terms of a four-year contract extension worth between $46-50 Million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Wojnarowski’s report on Wednesday, the conversation between Celtics general manager Danny Ainge and Smart’s management, Happy Walters is an ongoing one, but both parties are “seriously engaged.”
The following is from Wojnarowski’s Twitter,
Celtics GM Danny Ainge and Happy Walters, the agent for restricted free agent guard Marcus Smart, are now seriously engaged in contract talks, league sources tell ESPN. Potential deal range is in the four-year, $46M-$50M range, sources tell ESPN. Talks ongoing.
Smart, a restricted free agent, has had a disappointing free agency regarding what the 24-year-old thought he commanded on the open market. Smart believed that he deserved a yearly deal worth more than $14 million.
Smart earlier this month said he felt ‘hurt’ by Ainge failing to contact him at the outset of free agency on July 1st. NBC Sports Boston reported that Smart was beginning to opening up to the idea of signing the Celtics’ qualifying offer and becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported Wednesday the Celtics and Smart are cautiously optimistic a deal will get done within the week.
Following from the Boston Globe,
A Globe source said the hope is that a multi-year contract will be finalized between the two sides within a week, but cautioned that contract talks can be fickle, as one party may believe a deal is near while the other does not.
Smart averaged 10 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists for the Celtics last season. Smart missed time near the end of the 2017-18 regular season after having right thumb surgery in March.
