Boston Celtics: 3 reasons Marcus Smart’s contract makes sense

By getting Marcus Smart to agree to a four-year, $52 million deal, general manager Danny Ainge once again proved his worth to the Boston Celtics.

Despite some offseason rumors suggesting otherwise, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is going to be playing basketball in Beantown for the foreseeable future. Specifically, Marcus Smart agreed to a four-year deal worth $52 million for an average of $13 million annually.

By bringing back Marcus Smart, the Celtics retain one of their most versatile defensive players. Possessing both the foot-speed to stick with guards, and the strength to defend forwards, Smart plays an integral role in an elite Celtics defense. Although his shooting percentages have remained below league-average, Smart also brings some offense to the table as well.

Perhaps the most underrated part of Marcus Smart’s game is his passing ability. Head coach Brad Stevens likes to run an offense that begins with a set point of attack, but has the freedom to counter a defense with improvisation. Smart’s passing vision meshes well with this offensive scheme, and his Celtics teammates benefit from it.

Marcus Smart’s strengths and shortcomings are well known around the league. So what is it about his contract that makes it valuable? Why should this new deal be counted as a victory for the Boston Celtics? Before delineating three reasons why this deal is a good move for the Celtics, let’s get familiar with the reported details of Smart’s contract:

Thanks to Fred Katz, a Boston Celtics beat writer for Masslive.com, the finer points of Marcus Smart’s contract are available. So what makes this a worthwhile contract for the Boston Celtics?