With the trade deadline coming closer and closer, more and more rumors are going around the internet. One of the top prospects for trade is the Boston Celtics' shooting guard Marcus Smart. Both the Denver Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to trade for him, if possible, in the last few days of trade.
On one hand, the Nuggets would benefit highly from Smart's defensive efforts. He plays at least a good 30 minutes even while coming off the bench especially when the team starts focusing on defense. He averages 10.1 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game this year. Although not exactly praised for his offense, he still does manage to get some shots either for himself or for his teammates.
The Nuggets are currently 28–25 this season and one big reason for their not exactly good performance is their defense. Right now, they rank 20th in points allowed per 100 possessions, as reported by Bleacher Report. The team may be offering Emmanuel Mudiay for Smart, but the Celtics want a first-round pick instead.
On the other hand, the Cavs have that first-round pick they can potentially offer. According to FOX Sports, this, however, does not seem likely. For their pick, they would want a long-term asset and by putting two and two together, they may just find it in the 23-year-old Smart. The Cavs may also think of placing JR Smith in the trade instead of the first-round pick.
The Celtics right now are favored to win the Championships this year, placing first in the east. The team might be quite doubtful about Smart's performance if they are going on a Championship run. Getting Smith may just shake him out of his performance with the Cavs recently, with 7.9 points per game and a 34.6 percent shooting outside the 3-point line.
Note that these two are just possibilities that many fans have already pointed out. In the end, Smart still has a big say on the matter and it remains to be seen if he will be donning a different jersey after the trade deadline.
