Restricted free agent Marcus Smart was seen chatting with Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks in Las Vegas. Could there be talks of a deal taking place?
Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, among other free agents, has yet to sign a new contract. Could the Brooklyn Nets be pouncing on an opportunity?
The market for restricted free agents has been cruel and thin to most, with Bulls’ guard Zach LaVine being the exception. For the second week of July, it’s odd to see even the top names in restricted free agency to have yet signed offer sheets.
Aside from Smart, Houston center Clint Capela, Cleveland guard Rodney Hood, Milwaukee forward Jabari Parker and Los Angeles’ Montrezl Harrell remain floating about NBA restricted space. All are talented, but remain adamant of signing for the figures they’ve earned on the court.
In 54 games with the Celtics last season, Smart averaged 10.2 points and 4.8 assists per game. A dog on defense, he still managed to average a career-low 1.3 steals.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe is reporting that Smart has met with at least two teams in Las Vegas.
New: According to a league source, Marcus Smart is seeking less than $15 million per season. He met with two teams in Vegas Monday and will meet with two more today. Beyond pleasantries, there's been no more contact with the Cs yet: https://t.co/Hq78XI3nh8
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 10, 2018
But it seems NBA Twitter has already caught on to one club he’s spoken with. Michael Scotto, NBA writer for The Athletic, posted this picture on his Twitter account:
What appears to be Boston Celtics restricted free agent Marcus Smart and his agent having a conversation with Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks at the Thomas and Mack Center on Monday night. pic.twitter.com/04EaquaNxy
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 10, 2018
It appears to be guard Marcus Smart and his agent speaking with Brooklyn Nets’ general manager Sean Marks. It’s rare you see talks like these taking place so publicly, especially with Marks.
The Nets are already facing a logjam at the guard position, so it’s hard to make sense of a potential Smart signing.
As of now the group of D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Jeremy Lin, Spencer Dinwiddie and maybe Isaiah Whitehead will all be on the roster to enter the season.
Unless the front office has plans to move one to two of the names listed, this certainly wouldn’t prove a “smart” use of Brooklyn’s limited cap space, so, it could be nothing.
Or, it could be the beginnings of contract negotiations.
You decide.
