Marcus Smart. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Multiple reports in recent days have stated Celtics restricted free agent Marcus Smart is hurt and insulted by the lack of communication from the team since free agency began July 1. But, while the guard's met with other prospective employers in Las Vegas, he doesn't have any offer sheets--any of which the C's could match--so they're in no rush to bid against themselves. Why would they be?
At the moment, Smart's only bird in the hand is the one-year qualifying offer worth $6.1 million--well shy of the multi-year deal valued at around $15 million per he's said to be seeking, or Boston's reported four-year offer of at least $48 million he rejected last fall.
Still, Celts president of basketball operations Danny Ainge maintains, even with two open roster spots, Smart's at the top of the wish list.
"Yeah, there's guys that we're looking at," Ainge said. "We're all here watching all the teams win Summer League, watching different guys work out, but our priority remains the same. Our priority is still Marcus's free agency, and that's where we are."
It's possible this situation could drag on for a while if neither side loosens its stance. Several teams have reportedly inquired with Ainge about a sign-and-trade for Smart.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports