The Boston Celtics certainly have a strong roster but they still have some interesting options on the table when it comes to building the team for the next season that may very well see them become next year's NBA champions.
While they've missed out this year, it will be interesting to see what they choose to do going forward. Strong players on their side include Gordon Hayward, Al Horford and Kyrie Irving. And then there are two rising stars, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Irving and Hayward have suffered injuries this season but they're expected to return soon to full health, which will put the Celtics on an even stronger footing for next season.
But there are rumors that the Celtics may mix things up a little by re-signing soon to be free agent Marcus Smart. The question around that, though, seems to be around the price tag as he is reportedly looking for much more than $8 million. Speaking recently to ESPN, he put his own worth at more like $12 to $14 million.
As a restricted free agent, the Celtics have the right to match offers from other teams but it would be interesting to see how much they'd be prepared to stump up for him.
Writing for the Boston Globe, Gary Washburn said the Celtics need to bring Smart back as the relationship between him and the team seems to be working well for both sides.
"The Celtics have overlooked his warts and embraced his strengths. It seems like a match for both sides," he said.
"Smart doesn't complain about coming off the bench. He has the skills to do things no one else on the Celtics roster can consistently do and Stevens loves his tenacity."
If they do re-sign Smart, it will be interesting to see what they do about Terry Rozier, one of the breakout stars of the 2018 NBA playoffs.
Washburn had this advice for the Celtics: "Bring Rozier back and deal with the consequences next summer when he's a restricted free agent. Somebody is going to have to go but it doesn't have to be this summer."
