The Boston Celtics seem determined to get a first-round pick in any trade that involves point guard Marcus Smart, and now we have a better understanding of why.
ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that the Celtics have been so adamant about getting a first-round pick as part of a deal for Smart because they are hoping to be able to use the pick to acquire either Lou Williams or Tyreke Evans.
The Celtics are chasing that extra first-round pick in Marcus Smart trade talks in hopes of flipping it in a deal for either Lou Williams or Tyreke Evans, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 6, 2018
The Celtics are looking for an impact player who can score points off the bench, and either Williams or Evans would be a nice addition. Evans is a player Danny Ainge has supposedly been enamored with for a while. Williams is averaging 23.3 points and 5.3 assists in what has been a career year for him with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Smart seems to have fallen out of favor with the Celtics in the wake of an embarrassing temper tantrum, but Ainge has never been one to make desperation moves. If Boston can’t find a team willing to offer a first-round pick, they will probably just stick with Smart.
