Report: Celtics and Marcus Smart agree to four-year, $77 million extension
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The Boston Celtics and guard Marcus Smart have agreed to a contract extension. The new deal will see Smart paid $77 million over four years. The extension will have Smart under contract with Boston through 2025-26.
It’s been reported that Smart’s extension includes a trade bonus, but has no options.
Smart is the longest tenured Celtic, having been with the franchise since he was drafted with the sixth pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. During that time, Smart has become Boston’s unofficial captain and a franchise favorite for his all-out style of play.
In 2020-21, Smart averaged career highs in points (13.1 PPG), assists (5.7 APG) and minutes (32.9 MPG). Unfortunately, the increased production came with some fall-off in Smart’s shooting. He shot just 39.8% overall and only 33% from behind the arc.
New Celtics head coach Ime Udoka recently said the team’s plan is to have Smart function as their primary playmaker. This backs up comments from Udoka’s introductory press conference where he stated Smart is a “foundational player”.
This new extension also exhibits a significant commitment from Smart’s former head coach, and now President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. Stevens was once asked about Smart’s play and famously said “We love and trust him”. With this new contract, Stevens’ statement is backed up in a considerable way.
Smart joins teammate Jayson Tatum as Celtics who are signed through 2025-26. Tatum has a player option for that season worth $37.1 million. Jaylen Brown is under contract through 2023-24.
This extension for Smart seemingly takes Boston out of the running to create max cap space in the summer of 2022. That path was always unlikely, given it would have meant declining several 2022-23 team options this fall for players on their rookie scale contracts.
Jayson Tatum has great reaction to reported Marcus Smart extension with Celtics
Tatum has great reaction to Smart’s reported extension originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Reactions to Marcus Smart‘s new contract extension with the Boston Celtics are pouring in on social media, and one of the veteran guard’s teammates is excited about the news.
Reports surfaced Monday night that Smart and the C’s have agreed to a four-year extension worth $77 million, which, including the final year of his current deal, means he’s signed in Boston through the 2025-26 NBA season.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum was quick to react to the extension on Twitter, and Smart responded:
Happy for my dawg! https://t.co/bHRYfnR3PH
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) August 17, 2021
Love my G- now let’s turn up https://t.co/FhPLuw3KFw
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) August 17, 2021
Smart also reacted to his new extension with the following tweet:
☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
+
☘️☘️☘️☘️— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) August 16, 2021
Smart has played seven seasons for the Celtics after they selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He has become an elite defensive player, the emotional leader of the team and a fan favorite.
Report: Celtics Sign Marcus Smart to Four-Year, $77 Million Extension
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Marcus Smart is now slated to stay in Boston through the 2025-26 season.
The Celtics signed guard Marcus Smart to a four-year, $77.1 million extension on Monday.
Smart’s extension will begin in the 2022-23 season. He will earn $14.3 million in 2021-22.
Smart, 27, has played each of his seven NBA seasons with Boston after being selected with the No. 6 pick in the 2014 NBA draft. The Oklahoma State product averaged a career-high 13.1 points and 5.7 assists per game last season, though he shot just 39.8 percent from the field. Smart is a two-time All-Defense selection.
Boston enters 2021-22 seeking its eighth straight playoff appearance, though the franchise has not reached the Finals since 2010. Former Nets assistant Ime Udoka will serve as the Celtics head coach next season after Brad Stevens transitioned to a role in the team’s front office.
.jpg) Smart with the Boston Celtics in 2017
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| No. 36 – Boston Celtics | |
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| Position | Point guard / Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 6, 1994 Dallas, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 222 lb (101 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) |
| College | Oklahoma State (2012–2014) |
| NBA draft | 2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Playing career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–present | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
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Marcus Osmond Smart (born March 6, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys before being drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
Smart is widely considered to be one of the best defenders in the entire NBA, regardless of position, due to his fierce nature, strength, and hands.
