(Chris Christo/Boston Herald)
The Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics have discussed a trade for Marcus Smart, reports Marc Stein of the New York Times:
Denver is among the teams that has explored Marcus Smart trade scenarios with Boston, according to league sources. Emmanuel Mudiay has been made available, sources say, but the Celts covet a first-round pick for Smart
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 5, 2018
It was previously reported that the Celtics are seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Smart.
Smart is an enigma, and his value is difficult to gauge. On one hand, he’s not a good shooter (35.7 percent from the field, 29.9 percent from deep this season). Despite his inadequacies as a shooter, he attempts over four 3-pointers per game, which can be maddening at times. He doesn’t hesitate to shoot, which can be both a good and a bad thing.
Despite Smart’s at-times-misguided shot selection, he just has a certain quality to him. He’s a guy you want on your competitive basketball team. For every bad 3-pointer he takes, he makes a ridiculous game-altering hustle play in crunch time. He’s one of the very best defenders in basketball, a combo guard who has shown a legitimate ability to lock down one through four.
Defense was a major question mark for Denver heading into this season, and that question mark was exacerbated when Paul Millsap, the team’s best defender, went down with a wrist injury.
The Nuggets currently rank 23rd in defensive rating, while Boston ranks first. There’s no denying that Smart would be an upgrade over Mudiay, who has shown flashes but largely disappointed since the Nuggets drafted him seventh overall in 2015.
Still, Mudiay is a terrific athletic talent and feels like the sort of player whose untapped potential could be unlocked by Brad Stevens and co. in Boston.
