NBA Rumors: Marcus Smart ‘Likely’ Staying With Celtics

Report: Marcus Smart 'likely' staying with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It appears Marcus Smart will remain a Boston Celtic after all.

Contrary to an earlier report that the C's are likely to part ways with Smart this offseason, multiple reports at the start of NBA free agency Monday stated the veteran guard won't be moved.

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Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe wrote on Twitter that Smart isn't going anywhere, and Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald added Smart is likely staying in Boston now that Lonzo Ball is headed to the Chicago Bulls.

Some Cs intel I'm hearing as free agency rolls on:
-Fournier's return still quite unlikely
-Marcus Smart isn't going anywhere
-Cs could be priced out on Jeff Green
-Otto Porter/Patty Mills possible
-Cs remain focused on maintaining flexibility
-IT return not in cards
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) August 2, 2021

League source: Marcus Smart is likely staying, now that Lonzo Ball has signed with Chicago. Any roster additions will be "on the margins."
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) August 2, 2021

As of Monday, Smart is projected to be atop the Celtics' point guard depth chart. Below him are Payton Pritchard and the newly acquired Kris Dunn.

Smart, the longest-tenured Celtic, played in only 48 games last season due to injury. The 27-year-old struggled offensively, shooting 39.8 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from 3-point range while committing 2.0 turnovers per game.