Smart choice to stay with Green
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
In an ideal world, Marcus Smart expects a small-scale version of Isaiah Thomas’ mythical Brinks truck to arrive when he becomes a restricted free agent this summer.
His comments to ESPN following the Celts’ Game 7 loss to Cleveland revealed a player who believes he’s worth upward of $12 million per year. In a market once again expected to find most teams in a caprestricted state, Smart’s hopes may not match what he ultimately earns.
But based on his exit interview yesterday with the Celts management team of Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens, Smart feels good about his future as a Celtic.
“Danny emphasizes all the time how much he loves me as a player and emphasized how much they want me here. I want to be here, so that’s the plan right now,” said Smart. “I’ve been here four years. Boston’s all I know. The atmosphere that the city just gives off to you is remarkable. It’s ecstatic and it’s a good feeling. You want to feel that way. You want to be around people you’re comfortable with and you feel showed you love and Boston does that.
“As a person, just all the things that I’ve been through in my life, good or bad, I got to experience it. It’s good just for the simple fact that I know how to handle certain things as it pops up next time.”
Asked whether the Celtics indicated they will pay what he wants, Smart said, “No, we haven’t talked about any of that right now. We’ve just established that me being here is a big deal and that’s what (I) want as well.”
Asked if the team was willing to pay what will be needed to keep Smart, Ainge said, “In Boston, our ownership group has been fantastic. They’ve been very willing to pay for teams that have a chance. I think the way that our team has played this year, I think that will make it easier for them to step forward and realize the potential of this team and be willing to pay the money that we need to be as good as we can.”
Smart only hopes this refers to him.
“I got a lot to think about,” he said. “There’s a lot of factors that go into it, but that being said, I want to be in Boston, I want to be here. I love this city, I love this team, I love the atmosphere it gives off . ... They’re already planning for me to be here. Those guys, I tip my hat to those guys. You don’t see a lot of organizations as clear about their players as the way this organization does it. Danny and Brad do a good job of letting us be our own individuals and maxing that with the team and getting a good look.”
Baynes gets nosey
It wouldn’t be the end of the season without some undisclosed injuries, and a pair of surprises emerged.
Aron Baynes broke his nose in Game 6 in Cleveland and will need surgery. Ainge said Kyrie Irving was not on hand for Game 7 due to surgery to repair a deviated septum, originally suffered last November following an inadvertent elbow to the face by Baynes.
“I don’t think he wanted to be seen. He’s a really good-looking guy, has his movie career,” cracked the Celtics president.
Baynes grabbed his nose with a thumb and forefinger and gave it a tug to illustrate the issue.
“It’s a little bit crooked. Moves a little bit right now. Apart from that, I feel great,” he said. “My son kicked me in the nose this morning. It’s all good, I can get past that.”
Hayward update
Gordon Hayward continues to increase his basketball activity as he recovers from ankle surgery.
“Gordon is progressing well,” said Ainge. “He’s on the court now, finally doing a little bit of competition, like just one-on-one. And he’ll progress along that line slowly. We think that he’ll be playing basketball in the next couple months.”
Challenge to the King
Terry Rozier’s breakaway speed often wasn’t enough in the conference finals to get away from LeBron James, who victimized the Celtics guard with several chase-down blocks.
At least Rozier laughed about it while noting yesterday that he has no regrets about challenging the Cavs superstar.
“Any time you see LeBron at the hoop your eyes should light up, especially watching him at a young age, you know, LeBron James, everybody knows who he is,” Rozier said. “Next year I’m going to catch him. I’ll get him next year. But he blocked me a lot.”