The Knicks have expressed interest in acquiring Celtics guard Marcus Smart, according to a league source.
The Celtics could make Smart available as they try to clear salary cap space to sign Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million. But it's unclear if the Celtics will have to or want to part with Smart if they can work out a sign-and-trade with Utah for Hayward.
Forward Jae Crowder seems to be the Celtic most likely to go, and has reportedly come up in sign-and-trade talks with Utah. But the Celtics are said to be looking for assets back from the Jazz also. Celtics president Danny Ainge would want the same for the versatile Smart, the No. 6 pick in the 2014 draft, the source said.
Multiple teams have inquired about the 23-year-old Smart, the source added.
It's been speculated that it might take Willy Hernangomez and a first-round pick from the Knicks to get Smart. That would be a lot to give up for Smart, who averaged 10.6 points and 4.6 assists mostly coming off the bench last season and will be a restricted free agent next summer.
Hernangomez appears to be a Knicks' building block. Moreover, the rebuilding Knicks might not want to give a first-round pick _ unless it's for an impact player _ since it could be in the lottery.
The Knicks probably would rather deal Kyle O'Quinn. But from the Celtics' standpoint, if they want to cut payroll it wouldn't make sense. O'Quinn only makes $450,000 less than Smart's $4.58 million salary for next season. Hernangomez makes $1.43 million next season.
It's no secret the Knicks need backcourt help, and a good perimeter defender. The 6-foot-4 Smart has shown he can play both backcourt positions, but he's more of a scorer than a distributor. He's also a hard-nosed, tough defender.
Smart guards his position well. But he's also been effective against bigger players, including Kristaps Porzingis, who is nearly a foot taller than Smart.
The Knicks currently have 10 players on the roster, including Carmelo Anthony and Ron Baker who hasn't signed his new deal yet. Seven of them are frontcourt players. The Knicks' most glaring need is a veteran point guard to mentor first-round pick Frank Ntilikina and Baker.
They have been in touch with the agents for Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, and Shelvin Mack. Rondo and Rose would be better choices to help teach their young guards.
Rose has met with the Bucks and was supposed to meet with the Clippers. But they reached an agreement on a two-year, $12 million deal with European point guard Milos Teodosic. So Rose probably doesn't fit there now.
The Knicks haven't done much in free agency other than lock up their own players. They came to an agreement on a new two-year deal with Baker, signed Ntilikina to his four-year rookie contract, and inked undrafted rookie Luke Kornet to a two-way deal. That means Kornet, who played for the Knicks' summer league team, can shuttle between the NBA and the G-League for up to 45 days and he won't count on their roster.
