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Al Horford Declines Player Option

Horford Declines Option

Al Horford declined his $30.1 Million player option with the Boston Celtics Tuesday. Speculation about Horford signing an extension has been a topic all season, specifically considering Kyrie Irving’s uncertain status. With Irving all but gone, the team will now likely focus on resigning Horford to anchor their 2019-2020 roster. The five-time All-Star has provided a veteran presence since he arrived in Boston. Horford was also instrumental in the Celtics 2017-2018 playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Horford averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 68 games on shooting percentage splits of 53.5/36.0/82.1 in 2018-2019. The veteran center is also one of the best shooting big men in the NBA. Horford won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017-2018 and improved his defensive metrics in 2018-2019. He also decreased his turnovers per game by 0.3 turnover per game last season. In declining his player option, Horford becomes one of the top free agent centers available.

Al Horford declined his $30.1 million player option Tuesday becoming a free agent.

Crunching The Numbers

I’ve written about the Boston Celtics cap issues heading into the off-season. Even if the Celtics restructure Horford’s contract, combined with Gordon Hayward’s, those contracts will count for nearly 50% of the salary cap. It could be argued that Boston needs Horford and his restructured contract equally. The Celtics would have a hard time replacing Horford, and the salary cap and roster simply don’t work as presently constructed.

The debate surrounding the Boston Celtics has been trading assets for marquee free agents. Despite the asset a player like Anthony Davis provides, it has long been speculated Davis wouldn’t resign with Boston long term. Kyrie Irving provides the same asset, but his situation is well-documented and it’s clearly not worth it. The possibilities of signing a player like Kevin Durant has even been discussed. The Celtics seem to be taking the smart road, no pun intended, by staying away from Davis and Irving.

Al Horford, who was the 2017-2018 Defensive Player of the Year, led a core of young Boston Celtics players to the Eastern Conference Finals the same season. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)

Return To Glory

The last time the Boston Celtics starting five was led by Horford, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they came within a late-Game 7 push by the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers of making the NBA Finals. After regressions from Tatum and Brown last season, a return to that 2017-2018 lineup could be the key. Unlike the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics were unwilling to include young stars in a trade package. Will that motivate Tatum? Will Brown’s inclusion in trade talks affect him like it did the Lakers young core?

The Boston Celtics need to resign Al Horford and free enough cap space to sign a veteran point guard. Once those items are in place the Celtics will have a similar roster to the one that nearly got them to the NBA Finals in 2017-2018. If Gordon Hayward returns to his All-Star status form, justifying his $32.7M cap hit, that Celtics team could win the Eastern Conference. A Boston starting five of Horford, Smart, Hayward, Tatum and Brown doesn’t just look good on paper, it’s a proven winning lineup. Some will see Horford declining his option as a sign he wants opportunities with other teams. Boston knows better. Al Horford declined his option to finish what he started.

How Klay Thompson’s injury helps the C’s sign him

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Klay Thompson is the most underrated player in the entire NBA. He’s one of the best three-point shooters of all time, and one of the best defenders in the league. His unfortunate ACL injury has severely impacted his future. Most assume he’ll return to Golden State where his injury won’t affect his pay. However, Boston is secretly the best bet to sign him now. Here’s why:

The Gordon Hayward Experience

Klay Thompson will miss most of next season rehabbing from his injury. Most teams aren’t comfortable with taking on that task. Boston won’t have that problem. After seeing the way the Celtics treated Hayward, Klay Thompson and others would feel more comfortable going to a franchise that will be able to adequately care for them.

He’s a perfect fit in Boston

The beauty of Klay Thompson’s game is that he doesn’t have to handle the ball. He can cut to the hoop well and is a deadly spot-up shooter. The key to his integration on the C’s is his defense. Thompson is an exceptional defender and covers multiple positions on the court. The Celtics pride themselves as a defensive team, and Klay fits the mold.

He doesn’t have to be the Star

Part of the reason Klay Thompson is so underrated is because he’s been a supporting player on the Warriors. As such, and especially after an ACL tear, he likely won’t want to carry a team. With the Celtics, he won’t have to. Jayson Tatum is the face of the franchise, and Gordon Hayward and Al Horford are still here. Klay Thompson can be the same old Klay Thompson when he gets back and not carry a huge load.

Kyrie Irving Declines Player Option

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Celtics Moving On From Irving

As expected, Kyrie Irving declined his $21.3 million (M) 2019-2020 player option on Wednesday. Irving’s commitment has been inconsistent, to put it politely, since he arrived with the Boston Celtics two years ago. Now the Celtics will formally move on from Irving and will look to replace him, either through the draft or free agency. Irving’s departure will undoubtedly make it more difficult to draw another superstar to Boston, e.g. the much obsessed-over Anthony Davis. The Celtics cap issues are well known, despite Irving’s $21.3M coming off the books, so does it even matter? As I’ve written for Boston Sports Extra, the Boston Celtics need to keep it in house.

Theis Celtics — Boston Celtics center Aaron Baynes (46) dunks on LeBron James (23) during the 2017-2018 NBA Playoffs. Baynes picked up his 2019-2020 player option Wednesday. (Credit: WKYC.com)

Aaron Baynes Coming Back

Aaron Baynes picked up his $5.9M player option Wednesday. The 6’10” center provides veteran depth in addition to a solid backup to Al Horford. The 32-year old Australian played in 51 games in 2018-2019, averaging 5.6 ppg and 4.7 rebounds per game (rpg) in only 16 minutes per game. In fact, per 36 minutes Baynes averages 12.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, and 1.5 blocks per game, which would make him a top-20 center. Baynes also shot 86% from the free throw line, making him a late-game asset rather than the liability typical of his position.

Davis Celtics — The dream is over for some Boston Celtics fans, which begs the question: What’s next?

Boston’s Next Move

With Irving gone and Baynes signed through the 2019-2020 season, what is the Celtics next move? The 2019 NBA Draft is a week away. Will the Celtics address their needs in the draft? If they do, are Horford, Baynes and Marcus Smart enough of a veteran presence? Will their young stars progress with Irving gone and accept leadership roles? Do the Celtics trade their young stars for a superstar, even if it’s just for a year rental? Questions remain, but two things are certain. Aaron Baynes will be a Celtic next season, and the team has officially moved on from Kyrie Irving. If nothing else, Irving’s departure brings a sense of closure to a mentally-taxing situation.

Will Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) be the center piece of the team next year or the center piece of a trade? Credit: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports

Wild Off Season

The Boston Celtics are still in great position. The fast-approaching free agency period could be one of the wildest in years. The once predictable off-season is now plagued with uncertainty. The Celtics have multiple first round draft picks and young stars. Danny Ainge has proven a savvy, business-first general manager. The NBA is approaching crazy times and the Boston Celtics have the assets and the front office brass to make sense of it all.

Celtics: Is a one-year rental for Anthony Davis worth it?

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With trade talks heating up, Rich Paul told SI Now that the Celtics could trade for AD, but that’d be a near-guarantee he leaves after the season. This raises the question of what AD’s worth is to the Celtics if he isn’t staying. There are many factors to consider, and we’ll look at the important ones in this article.

Have One-Year rentals worked and changed?

Many people like to say that, when they take a one-year rental, they can convince him to stay. Does this actually work, though? In the case of Kawhi Leonard, it certainly seems that way. Leonard got traded to Toronto on the assumption that he’d decline his option and be a free agent. Instead, Toronto is on the precipice of its first franchise Finals win with Leonard poised to stay. This situation is not the rule, but certainly a possibility.

Jayson Tatum has limitless potential and almost certainly would be a centerpiece of trade talks

What would the Celtics have to give up?

It’s almost a guarantee that the Celtics would give up almost all its current first-round picks in order to acquire Anthony Davis. However, a trancendant talent like Davis isn’t pried away with uncertain rookies alone. Jayson Tatum, though up and down, has been a star in the making for the C’s and shows much talent. He’d be a piece the Pelicans would want to cushion the blow.

There’s no guarantee that Irving returns if the Celtics get AD

Would it help them get Kyrie back?

Kyrie Irving has declined his player option, and is set to hit free agency. The Celtics want him back, and see Davis as their way to do so. However, its not as simple as that. Kyrie and the Celtics have created a rift where the team would need to ‘sell their soul’ to have him back. AD or not, it’s likely that Kyrie can’t be bought back by the C’s.

DECISION: Not worth it

The Celtics have too much to lose here. Irving is already one foot out the door unless they land Kevin Durant. Paul’s comments make it seem as if there’s zero chance AD stays there, with a track record to prove it. And in the end, the Celtics young core that it would blow up to land AD is more valuable in the long run. The Celtics would be wise to avoid Davis.

How does Kevin Durant’s injury impact the Celtics?

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I outlined in my previous article the reasons why Kevin Durant should sign with the Celtics. After his unfortunate Achilles tear last night, that seems like a lost thought. Durant’s expected recovery time is 10-18 months. However, there are plenty of ways that Durant going down drastically effects the entire NBA, and helps the C’s.

Rozier Celtics — No Durant most likely means no New York for Kyrie

Kyrie Irving’s Free Agency decision

Kyrie Irving has been linked to KD since the All-Star break. Rumors about the two joining forces have run rampant all season. Now with Kevin Durant out for the next year, Kyrie’s decision is altered. He now must either decide between the Brooklyn Nets or a return to Boston. He may want to wait the year out for a healthy Durant

Durant’s fall from the #1 spot could lure Leonard out to view his options

Dramatic shift in the FA Market

Kevin Durant was all set up to be the top free agent of 2019, and every other player would fall under him. With the top market option no longer number 1, that leaves a lot of money on the table. This potentially could lure Kawhi Leonard to decline his player option, and give the C’s a chance at grabbing a generational talent. Leonard would be insane to not give himself the options he’d have as the top free agent. It also makes role players like Marcus Morris less valuable, since an injured Durant is more valuable than a healthy Morris.

Celtics may land a discount on Durant

Kevin Durant to the Celtics has always been a possibility, but never a reality. He’s been expensive, and had an infinite line of suitors from which to choose. His injury history may scare many suitors off who don’t want to take on the risk. On top of that, the injuries may have potentially caused his price to drive down. This makes him affordable and makes Boston much more attractive. With the way the Celtics treated Gordon Hayward, Durant would be foolish to not give the C’s a hard look after injury.

Is Jayson Tatum Worth Trading?

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Pelicans Interested in Tatum

Speculation regarding the Boston Celtics trading for Anthony Davis has been a topic of conversation all season. The Celtics don’t have the ability to trade for Davis while retaining Kyrie Irving because of the Rose rule. It also doesn’t make much sense to trade for one superstar as the other superstar leaves. The obvious answer would be the Celtics trading their draft picks or young stars. When the draft lottery dust settled the Boston’s draft prospects weren’t as enticing, leaving the young stars.

It has been reported that New Orleans Pelicans GM Daniel Griffin are interested in trading Davis to the Celtics for Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, a filler player and the 14^th pick in this year’s draft. This trade is causing some interesting conversations around the community, specifically in the are of betting and more specifically UK Betting. The question then becomes, should the Celtics trade that package for Davis? Should the Celtics trade any of their young stars for Davis?

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (11) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrate after a three point shot by Tatum. Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Rising Star Regression

Midway through the 4^th quarter of Game 7 of the 2017-2018 Eastern Conference Finals the Cleveland Cavaliers led the Boston Celtics 71-67. Jayson Tatum got the pass at the top of the key, made one move and posterized LeBron James. It was the dunk heard ‘round the World and seemed to cement Tatum’s arrival to the NBA. Tatum averaged almost 5 ppg more (18.5 ppg) in the 2017-2018 playoffs than in the regular season (13.9 ppg). The future looked bright for Tatum and the Boston Celtics.

Tatum’s ascent seemed to continued when he improved in 2018-2019 in nearly every important metric besides shooting percentage splits. When the playoffs ended, however, fans had witnessed a serious regression. Tatum saw dips in points, assists and shooting percentage splits with no improvement in defense. Tatum’s only playoff improvement over 2017-2018 was rebounding. Kyrie Irving’s presence seemed to handicap Tatum’s game, along with Jaylen Brown’s, whose production also decreased.

Is Anthony Davis Worth It

Speaking of regression, Anthony Davis was a model for regression in 2018-2019. Davis saw decreases in points (-2.2 ppg), assists (-1.6), his signature blocks (0.2) and his even more signature shooting splits. One could argue it was due to the animosity surrounding Davis and the Pelicans, which I would argue was self-indused. What’s the difference between regression and regression because you’re forcing a mid-season trade? It’s the difference between trading or not trading players like Tatum or Jaylen Brown for Anthony Davis.

It has been reported the Celtics wouldn’t trade Brown for Kawhi Leonard. Perhaps the Celtics don’t feel either player is worth trading away, especially for what might be a one-year rental. The Celtics are seeing how that plays out with Kyrie Irving. Brown also regressed in the presence of Irving, which begs the question, what if Tatum and Brown were the stars, a la the 2017-2018 NBA Playoffs? Both players progressed from their rookie to sophomore years. Brown and Tatum were All-Rookie selections, respectively, and both players possess a skill set that extends to both sides of the floor. The Boston Celtics were within a few minutes of making the NBA Finals in their rookie (Tatum) and second (Brown) years.

When you consider Davis’ effect on the Pelicans last year, his regression and contract status, trading for him becomes questionable. When you consider the potential of Tatum and Brown, trading them for Davis becomes difficult. Now consider none of these scenarios take Kyrie Irving’s uncertainty with the Celtics into account. Suddenly trading Tatum, draft picks and the heart of the team in Marcus Smart for Davis becomes impossible.

Why Kevin Durant should sign with Celtics

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Kevin Durant is set to be the marquee free agent this summer. With Golden State having helped him win two titles, it’s time for KD to cement his legacy elsewhere. Many believe he may be headed to Brooklyn or the Knicks to lead them to the promised land. However, the one place Durant should really go to is Boston. Here’s why;

Durant and OKC blew a 3-1 lead in the 2017 WCF

1. He Needs to win somewhere else

Kevin Durant is most infamous for jumping ship to the Warriors from the Oklahoma City Thunder. KD has yet to reach a Finals, let alone win one, without the help of an established dynasty. Boston hasn’t reached an NBA Final since 2010, almost a decade. These two can accomplish great things together and rewrite both their legacies.

2. He was almost here before

Before Kevin Durant made his choice to join the Golden State Warriors, he was almost a Celtic. Many Boston athletes like Julian Edelman were all-in on recruitment. Durant saw plenty enough to have the team on the table, so why not go back? He’d be an immediate superstar and is still wanted by the front office of the C’s.

3. Anthony Davis

The Celtics are one of the many teams linked to Anthony Davis, and have the resources to go out and get him. Durant has played next to many great stars, and always performs better because of it. If the Celtics can make AD in Boston in a reality, than Kevin Durant would be hard-pressed to say no if Boston makes an offer. A KD-AD pairing would be nigh-unstoppable in this NBA and give Boston some much-needed star power.

4. The perfect pair to change their legacy

The Boston Celtics found themselves the only team in their city not in the finals this year. On top of that, Kyrie Irving seems as good as gone, and shows Boston has a hard time winning with big stars. Kevin Durant took the easy road to winning, but wants to rebuild his legacy. If Boston can make it work with Durant, and KD can lift the Celtics to the Finals, then both could be restored. Boston would have success with a star player again and erase the Kyrie saga. Kevin Durant would win with a team that needed him and prove he didn’t need Golden State to win.

Boston Celtics: Free Agent Targets

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The Void at Point Guard

Insiders around the NBA don’t expect Kyrie Irving to be playing for the Boston Celtics in 2019-2020. The Celtics could lose one of the best players in the league, but they’ll also lose their point guard. Assuming the Celtics don’t address their point guard issues in the draft, they’ll look to free agency.

It’s hard to imagine Aaron Baynes not exercising his $5.5 million ($5.5M) option, and restructuring Baynes’ contract seems unlikely. Al Horford is due $30.1M via a player option this season. and becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2020-2021 at age 34. If Horford earns that $301.1M, but another team signs Terry Rozier, the Celtics salary cap will still approach $99.9M. The Celtics would have just over $9M in cap space, and $23M in “soft cap” space, before hitting the luxury tax. It would be difficult for Boston to sign a marquee point guard while retaining roster depth with that kind of money. Horford restructuring his contract would not be difficult.

Restructuring Al Horford

The Boston Celtics could restructure Horford to a 4-year $100M contract that paid $20M in 2019-2020. This hypothetical contract would pay Horford $23.5M, $27.5M and $29M, respectively, until 2022-2023. The salary cap will rise as Horford approaches 38 years of age by contract’s end. That restructured contract would free up an additional $10M in 2019-2020, affording the Celtics the requisite cap space.

This hypothetical contract would also count for $23.5M against the 2020-2021 salary cap. Combined with Gordon Hayward’s $34.1M, Marcus Smart’s $12.9M, Jason Tatum’s non-guaranteed $9.9M club option and Jaylen Brown’s $8.6M qualifying offer, the 2020-2021 salary cap would sit at $89.5M. Considering the NBA salary cap increases to $118M in 2020-2021, the Celtics would have $28.5M in cap space. The luxury tax threshold increases to $143M that season, meaning Boston could theoretically have upwards of $54M in cap space. That money will cover any free agent signed in 2019-2020, draft picks, a veteran minimum contract and extension space for Tatum and Brown.

The Boston Celtics will need to restructure Al Horford’s contract moving forward if the Celtics plan to sign any marquee free agents, or even offer extensions to existing players such as Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Free Agent Point Guards

The market happens to be rife with point guards, some of which would fit the Celtics roster and salary cap. There are 18 unrestricted, and one restricted, free agent point guards available this off season. I believe six of them would be perfect fits for the Celtics. Kemba Walker, an All-NBA selection, will command the most money. Ricky Rubio made $13.75M in 2018-2019 and will likely command somewhere ~150% of that salary in 2019-2020. Patrick Beverly and D’Angelo Russell both made ~$5.8M in 2018-2019, but Russell’s salary will be drastically different in 2019-2020. Elfrid Payton and Emmanuel Mudiay provide the most flexibility, but the most uncertainty. Mudiay’s $5.8M qualifying offer would cost the New York Knicks nearly $13M against their cap.

Considering the money likely required to secure Walker and Russell, combined with Russell’s documented immaturity, I would pass on both. One could also make the same financial argument for Rubio, whose production likely won’t match his salary. Mudiay is a nice player, but not much of an upgrade over Boston’s current options. Besides, Mudiay could be retained by the New York Knicks. I argue here for the free agent signings of Beverly and Payton. Patrick Beverly would provide the defensive veteran presence and playoff experience Brad Stevens would appreciate. Elfrid Payton, 25, averaged 10.6 ppg, 5.2 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game for the New Orleans Pelicans. Those contracts would likely cost the Celtics ~$20M per season going forward, freeing up the requisite cap space for depth. The Boston Celtics need to make moves at point guard and I believe I’ve outlined the perfect plan.

Boston Celtics: Potential 2019-2020 Roster

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Power Through Draft Picks

For the past several seasons the Boston Celtics have been in a position of power. The Celtics “Big Three” of the late oughts were parlayed into an abundance of first round picks by GM Danny Ainge. One of those picks was traded for Kyrie Irving, who instantly propelled the Celtics to the next level. When Irving’s late season injury kept him out of the 2017-2018 playoffs, the young Boston core stepped up. The future looked bright for the Boston Celtics.

Unfortunately, the Kyrie Irving situation may not have worked in Boston, but the bigger question is: Will any big free agent acquisition end up working out for the Celtics? The situation doesn’t look as promising with Irving reportedly wanting out of Boston, which would hurt the Celtics trade prospects. Losing Kyrie would also make it difficult to lure another marquee player who might be reluctant to take on Irving’s 2017-2019 role. Players also seem to be keying in on a city’s marketability, and even the weather. There’s a reason we only seem to hear about New York or Los Angeles as potential landing spots for superstar free agents.

The situation between the Boston Celtics and All-NBA point guard Kyrie Irving didn’t exactly go as Celtics fans would have hoped the past two seasons. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

A Realistic Future

Imagine a scenario in which the Celtics lose Kyrie Irving next season. Let’s also assume Al Horford and Aaron Baynes pick up their 2019-2020 player options. Finally, we’ll assume the Celtics retain Terry Rozier through their unmatched qualifying offer via Rozier’s restricted free agency. These three scenarios are not only plausible, but possible. The roster might look familiar, but the salary cap situation might surprise you.

Six roster spots on the Boston Celtics are contractually-bound. Those six players – Gordon Hayward, Jason Tatum, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Guerschon Yabusele and Robert Williams – account for over $64 million, or 59% of the salary cap. If we add Horford and Baynes’ player options the salary cap climbs to over $100 million, or 92% of the salary cap. Finally, Rozier’s qualifying offer is nearly $4.3 million, however, the cap number would be nearly $9.2 million. Rozier’s contract would put the Boston Celtics salary cap over $109.9 million; the NBA salary cap is $109 million.

A Reasonable Roster

It’s clear after crunching the numbers the Celtics will be over the salary cap. The good news is the luxury tax is $132 million in 2019-2020, so ownership has the flexibility to sign their draft picks and perhaps take on a veteran minimum contract.

With the money essentially allocated the question becomes who actually fills out the Celtics roster in 2019-2020? With positions like shooting guard (Jaylen Brown), small forward (Gordon Hayward; Jason Tatum) and power forward/center (Al Horford; Aaron Baynes) set, the focus becomes point guard. Justin Mantegani wrote a great piece for Boston Sports Extra highlighting the need at point guard and possible solutions.

The Celtics are set at positions like small forward, center and shooting guard, begging the question: Who will play point guard for Boston?

The Need For Depth

Questions about the point guard position are pressing, no pun intended, but even more pressing is Boston’s depth. As it stands according to the aforementioned scenario, the Celtics would enter the 2019-2020 season with Smart and Baynes as their only reliable veteran bench players. The rest would comprise of Guerschon Yabusele, Robert Williams and the Celtics’ 2019 draft picks. Perhaps, instead of concentrating on landing marquee superstars, the focus should be acquiring veterans to help the Celtics young core.

The Celtics have budding young stars in Tatum and Brown. The team has veteran All-Stars in Hayward and Horford, and the heart of the team in Marcus Smart. Boston even has raw potential in Yabusele and Williams, not to mention their incoming draft picks. The biggest issue for the Celtics is depth, especially at the point guard position. With Boston’s star point guard Kyrie Irving all but gone, that’s where the focus needs to be.

Why Marcus Smart is the Celtics’ MVP

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After a tumultuous season for the Celtics, we begin the offseason discussion. With a few key pieces of last season set to hit free agency, we must look at what the Celtics need to hold on to. There is no player on this team that is more valuable than Marcus Smart. While an unpopular opinion, a case can be made that Smart was the team MVP last season. Here’s why:

Smart has expertly defend high-caliber players like LeBron James

All-NBA Defensive First Team

When you here the name Marcus Smart, you probably think of how great a defender he is. Smart made his first All-NBA defensive first team this year. However, Marcus ‘Winning Plays’ Smart has been putting on the clamps all five years he’s been on the C’s. Averaging 1.6 steals in his career, Smart is sneakily good at pickpocketing the ball. His biggest impact is that Marcus’ defensive plays always seem to alter the course of the game in favor of the C’s.

Marcus Smart: Locker Room Leader

Smart doesn’t receive enough praise for his leadership qualities. For one, he brings a competitive edge to the team. This edge is sometimes the difference between them winning and losing. The Marcus Smart mentality also is a huge help come playoff season, which is why the Celtics have enjoyed recent postseason success. Smart is also a leader in the fact that he is always on his teammate’s side. Kyrie Irving is a great example. Many times this season analysts have pointed to Kyrie’s leadership as a source of the team’s woes. When Marcus Samrt was asked about this, he said the claims were ‘B.S.’. Even if Kyrie is a bad teammate, Smart was not willing to throw him under the bus. That’s leadership right there.

He is the prototypical Boston athlete

When we talk about what a Boston athlete should be, we often think of Tom Brady. Highly competitive, chip on his shoulder, and always seems to find ways to win. Bruins Defenseman Zdeno Chara and Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia are other examples of this. For the Celtics, their version of the ‘Boston Athlete’ is Marcus Smart. Smart has always played like he wasn’t getting enough appreciation (he wasn’t). He also is always competing, all the way down to the final seconds. It’s this reason alone why Marcus Smart is the team’s MVP, and its not even close.