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Boston Celtics: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

By Simon Smith

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward pose for a picture holding their jerseys before their introduction as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward pose for a picture holding their jerseys before their introduction as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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4. Marcus Smart will be traded

This would be primarily due to a couple of reasons.

Like the trading away of starters Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, moving on from Smart would also be due to a proactive line of thinking. Now entering his fourth season in the league, Smart is due for a contract extension come next summer.

At present, the Celtics’s salary cap is maxed out due to the additions of Irving and Hayward, on top of the four-year, $113 million contract they dished out to Al Horford in the summer of 2016.

While Smart has consistently presented himself as one of the more gritty and determined defenders in the league in his time in Boston, his overall game hasn’t made extending him beyond this season a mere formality.

In this day and age of “pace and space” basketball where the 3-point shot has become such a valuable commodity, Smart has cleared not excelled in this area. Over 207 games in three seasons, Smart has shot at a 29.1 percent clip from long range, including a 28.3 percent return last season.

A player who would be of incredible value to the Celtics is Patrick Beverley of the Los Angeles Clippers. Just acquired by the Clippers as part of the deal that sent Chris Paul to the Houston Celtics, Beverley would provide two key ingredients to the Celtics.

First of all, he’d bring a veteran presence both on the court and in the locker room. With the departures of Thomas, Crowder, Bradley, Johnson and Olynyk, a tremendous amount of experience has simply walked out the door. As the roster stands at present, Smart would be virtually the most experienced Celtic coming off the bench, assuming he resumes his sixth man role.

But not only does Beverley provide veteran leadership, his ability to knock down the 3-ball, and play either on or off the ball, would be simply invaluable. Last season, Beverley shot at a 38.2 percent clip from 3-point range, and has a career 37.5 percent return.

With the success of the Clippers in recent seasons, there has been a dearth of high-end draft picks at their disposal. As the No. 6 overall selection in 2014, Smart would provide the Clippers a great building block to utilize in the coming seasons.

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