Marcus Smart signs with the rival Lakers, Al Horford remains in a holding pattern, and other thoughts on the Celtics
Smart agreed to the buyout this past weekend, but his destination surely made Celtics fans cringe. The 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year has agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers.
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Smart, who was selected by the Celtics with the sixth pick of the 2014 draft, was the first key piece of Boston's swift rebuild. He helped the Celtics to the conference finals five times, along with the 2022 NBA Finals appearance against the Warriors.
But after the Celtics lost to the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals in 2023, Smart was traded to the Grizzlies in the three-team deal that brought Kristaps Porzingis, and, eventually an NBA title, to Boston.
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Smart's last two seasons have been slowed by injuries and inconsistent opportunities. He appeared in a total of just 54 games. But he is just 31, and if he is healthy he could become an essential part of a Lakers team looking to make perhaps one final run with LeBron James. The Lakers' backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves is potent on offense but a liability on defense, and Smart should fortify that group.
On Tuesday, Smart was asked what it will be like to face his former team as a member of the rival Lakers.
'I'm expecting a lot of boos,' he said, smiling. 'I'm expecting a lot of hate. And it's OK. I understand it.'
Smart becomes the latest longtime Celtics guard to join the Lakers late in his career, following Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, and Isaiah Thomas.
⋅ All indications are that center-forward Al Horford is in a holding pattern with the Warriors as wing Jonathan Kuminga's situation drags on. Kuminga, 22, is a restricted free agent and has made it clear he is in search of a large contract and larger role. The Warriors tendered Kuminga a $7.9 million qualifying offer that he clearly has no plans to accept. Golden State could work to orchestrate a sign-and-trade with another team to recoup an asset. Regardless, it's unlikely that Horford's future will be determined until that first domino falls. Celtics president of basketball operations
⋅ Drew Nicholas should sound familiar to longtime college basketball diehards. The Celtics' new executive director of player personnel was a guard on Maryland's 2001-02 national championship team that included future NBA players Steve Blake, Juan Dixon, Chris Wilcox, and Lonny Baxter. Nicholas averaged a team-high 17.8 points as a senior the following season. In Boston, he'll help fill the void created by the departures of assistant general manager Austin Ainge and director of scouting Remy Cofield.
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⋅ The Celtics' sale continues to push forward as scheduled. Look for the NBA's board of governors to approve
⋅ The New Zealand Breakers of the National Basketball League parted ways with former Celtics big man Tacko Fall. Fall averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds over 18 games with the Breakers last season.
⋅
⋅ Celtics big man Luka Garza, a Washington, D.C., native, threw out the first pitch prior to the Nationals' home game against the Reds on Wednesday.
found a guy (luka garza 6'10 btw) taller than james wood (6'7 btw) to throw the first pitch
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— Washington Nationals (@Nationals)
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