2. Marcus Smart (Two years, $27 million)
Since being drafted in 2014, Marcus Smart has always been the player you need to watch to fully understand that which he brings to the table.
Battles amongst the seven-foot trees just to get a finger on the ball for an offensive rebound. Constant pushbacks in the low post against opponents much bigger than him. Seemingly always involved in the game-swinging play at either end.
The Boston Celtics have always valued those intangibles. They’ve been complimented with contributions this season that have become a bit easier to comprehend.
His 13.5 points and 4.8 assists per game are career-highs. The same goes for his 6.9 3-point attempts per game, of which he’s converting them at a respectable 34.8 percent clip.
Some erratic play is part of the Marcus Smart experience, as evidenced by his sub-40 field goal percentage. Those maddening moments are well worth the winning plays that follow his presence, including the improvement of Boston’s fourth-ranked defense when he’s on the court
And at a price point just below Terrence Ross and Thaddeus Young, you won’t ever hear the Celtics complain about it.