Marcus Smart may still be with the Boston Celtics for the 2018-19 season, but that could be it.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe reported on Friday that Smart is “over it” and is prepared to take the one-year qualifying offer, which would pay him roughly $6 million. Himmelsbach does add however that the Celtics’ fondness for Smart has not waned and that general manager Danny Ainge will mend personal fences if need be.
Smart, a restricted free agent, was said earlier this week to be “hurt and disgusted” by the Celtics’ lack of communication with him this summer. Ainge’s failure to reach out was also noted as a specific point of contention.
Though the 24-year-old’s offense comes and goes, he remains one of Boston’s most important players. Now the team risks the possibility of losing him for nothing as an unrestricted free agent next summer if he does decide to play out the year on the qualifying offer, which would come with a no-trade clause.
