Boston Celtics: 5 cheap replacements if Marcus Smart leaves

2. Wayne Ellington

If you want the Celtics to bring in the opposite of Marcus Smart, look no further than Wayne Ellington. Ellington would probably prefer to land on a team where his minutes could be extended, as noted in an earlier piece. In Boston, however, his efficiency could reach new heights. A one-year deal here could be parlayed into a more lucrative contract during next year’s promising free agency market.

This move would serve a dual purpose for the Celtics, as they could be keeping a lethal shooter away from contenders such as the Houston Rockets or Golden State Warriors. What’s better than having a shooter like Ellington on your team? Not having to face him in a potential Finals matchup.

In Boston, he would likely split time between the first and second unit. Running alongside a bench squad of Rozier, Daniel Theis, Aron Baynes and Marcus Morris would round out that unit nicely.

Is this move realistic? Miami owns Ellington’s Bird rights, meaning that after tax implications are factored in, they can sign him to a maximum contract of about $10 million. Anything north of $6.2 million would be an upgrade for Ellington, so in theory Boston could land him by digging into its MLE. If a one-year deal of $8.6 million is too much for the Heat to stomach matching, Ellington could be wearing green next year.