At the start of the offseason, Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said there was no such thing as untouchables when it came to the players on the roster. The Celtics were linked to a lot of players during free agency and the draft and ultimately came up short on all of their options. They settled for team-friendly contracts and no real long-term commitments which could mean the Celtics are still eyeing trade deals that could linger into the new season.
The most interesting position for the Celtics is the battle between Marcus Smart and Isaiah Thomas. During his rookie season, Smart saw the most time at the starting role with Thomas coming off the bench, but there is no denying the talent of the veteran especially after he does things like drop 50 points at a Seattle Pro-Am game. Many believe Thomas should be an All-Star while others are making the case for him to start. Does that make Smart expendable?
According to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times, Smart is a player that Ainge would list as a "hopeful keeper", but is certainly not opposed to trade deals. AT the start of the offseason, rumors surfaced that the Celtics were shopping Smart to the Philadelphia 76ers in order to acquire Nerlens Noel. The supposed deal went nowhere. However, could something like that take place during the season if Thomas continues on this tirade of scoring?
Several teams could be looking for point guard upgrades and Smart showed enough during last season to prove he could be that type of player. The New York Knicks are hoping their young tandem of Langston Galloway who is signed to a partially guaranteed contract and Jerian Grant is enough to get them to an improved record. Jose Calderon can always be offered up in a trade deal. The Los Angeles Lakers already have doubt in their tandem of D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson. Adding Smart to the mix is not a bad idea.
There is no trade market for either point guard at this point in the offseason, nor would the Celtics consider shopping either player right now. However, Boston is still in rebuilding mode. The Boston Herald has made trade cases for both Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk heading into 2015 and there are certainly ones for Smart and Thomas. If the Celtics can get solid draft picks or assets for one of these players, they would likely take the deal.
