Smart is one of the key players for Boston in large part because he constantly thrives in areas where his teammates may not, such as hustle and defense.
MARCUS SMART ESPN FREE
In addition to effort, that also requires strong pattern recognition from Smart, who excels at gambling defensively when the odds are in his favor.ĭefensive awareness and basketball IQ are certainly two of Smart’s strengths, with his play recognition making him the basketball version of a middle linebacker or free safety even, considering his ability to intercept passes,
No regular starter expends more energy on defense than Smart, who seems to will himself into position to thwart opponents’ plays. Here’s what ESPN’s Kevin Pelton had to say about Smart: He shot a career-high three-point percentage of 36.4, never having shot above 33.5 percent from three since his rookie season, and a career-high 42.2 percent from the field.Īll while continuing to play excellent defense (in fact, he averaged a career-high 1.8 steals per game on his way to his first All-Defensive team selection), providing invaluable hustle and being an emotional leader.įurthermore, Smart continues to show off his court vision and passing ability, although his decision-making with the ball in his hands isn’t always faultless.
Smart played a career-high 80 games and started in a career-high 60 games he had never started in more than 56.8 percent of his games before last season and that was in his rookie season. On June 2, The Athletic’s Jay King reported that Payton Pritchard hopes to be traded away from the Celtics this summer.After being ranked as the 54th-best player in the NBA in the 2018-19 season, ESPN has ranked Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart as the 87th-best player in the NBA in the 2019-20 season, a surprising drop for a player who only improved in what was his fifth season in the league. Suns Showing Interest in Payton Pritchard A career 37.9 percent shooter from long range and a capable defender against bigger opponents, he brings real value-just not in a full-time starter role,” Hughes wrote.ĭespite finding himself residing in and out of head coach Joe Mazzulla‘s rotation throughout the 2022-23 season, Grant Williams still managed to put up career highs in several statistical categories, finishing with averages of 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field and 39.5% from deep through 79 games played. Considered a five-star recruit by, Smart was listed as the No. That means spot starts during the year, and perhaps in certain matchups in the playoffs, but a role that ultimately tops out at about 25 minutes per game. Limited athletically and effective mostly because of his brain and competitive nature, he would fit best on a team that could use him much as the Celtics do. “Grant Williams has made solid contributions to highly successful Boston Celtics teams during his four-year career, but he doesn’t carry an imminent-breakout profile. However, Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes seems to believe that the power forward should wind up landing a new contract with the Celtics and predicts that he’ll put pen to paper on a lofty new four-year, $52 million deal. His supermax 50 million per year contract. When it comes to what Grant Williams could wind up netting himself on the free agency market, at this point it’s truly anyone’s guess. Bradley Beals trade value is reportedly a fraction of what it was last summer according to ESPNs Brian Windhorst. Grant Williams Predicted to Receive $52 Million From Celtics The hope is this will not impact his leverage in contract negotiations. Per another report by Spotrac’s Keith Smith, Grant Williams will be cleared to resume on-court basketball activities in 6-8 weeks. ESPN Sources: Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams – who’ll be a restricted free agent this summer - had surgery on his left hand Friday that’s expected to have him fully recovered for the start of fall training camp:
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