Brad Stevens continues to make moves.
The Celtics and guard Marcus Smart agreed to a 4-year/$77-million contract extension, that kicks in for the 2022-23 season.
Smart is now pretty much guaranteed to be the team's starting point guard job this season. He will join Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in that lineup, with Robert Williams (a candidate to receive his own contract extension now that Smart is locked up) likely to be the starter at center. New head coach Ime Udoka will have a decision to make for the fifth starting spot, likely between Aaron Nesmith and Josh Richardson.
I have watched Smart play a lot of games for the Celtics since he was the 6th pick in the 2014 Draft. He brings much to the team as an energetic defender and play maker, although his shooting and decision making can be questioned at times. He is 27-years-old and will be starting his 8th NBA season this year, so the Celtics must be confident in who he is as a player to make this financial investment.
For those worried that this eliminates the Celtics from pursuing a third superstar to join with Tatum and Brown - such as Bradley Beal of the Wizards or Karl-Anthony Towns of the Timberwolves - this deal actually makes that path more likely. If Smart were to be used in a deal, his $17.2-million salary for next season helps makes the numbers work better to bring in a player making over $30-million per season.
For now Boston has a player who can lead their defense, create scoring opportunities for his teammates, and add secondary scoring while also retaining the future flexibility to significantly improve their championship aspirations.
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The Red Sox start a critical stretch of games today that will play a major part in determining their status as a contender in September.
This stretch begins in Yankee Stadium, where they play three games over the next two days. Boston holds a narrow 2-game advantage over the Yankees in the Wild Card, making these two days important for both teams. Winning the series adds a game to their lead while a sweep would add three games to that lead.
After the New York trip, the Red Sox will play nine games against three under-.500 teams. The Rangers 42-76) and Twins (53-66) come to Fenway before the Sox go to Cleveland to play the Indians (57-60). If the Red Sox still dream of winning the division, they likely need to go 7-2 in those games.
All of this sets them up to travel to division leading Tampa Bay for a four-game series that ends August and starts September.
If Boston runs off a record of 9-3 or 10-2 against New York, Texas, Minnesota, and Cleveland than they could head to Florida with a chance to take the division lead to start September. If they scuffle over these next 12 games than the Tampa Bay trip could end up being the beginning of the end of what was once a promising season.
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Cam Newton or Mac Jones? Mac Jones or Cam Newton?
Unless Jones, the first round pick from Alabama, plays absolutely flawless football in practice and preseason games over the next two weeks at the same time that Newton plays more like Cam Neely than I would expect the Patriots to start the season with Newton at quarterback.
The reports from training camp and the glimpses provided by the first preseason game make the case that Jones is picking up the offense and is contending for the job, and he may not be that far away from taking the job, but after a shortened offseason it's more likely than not that Bill Belichick will go with the veteran and give Newton the opportunity to lead the offense.
The strength of this team is going to be the defense, so the quarterback will need to limit turnovers and put up 24-27 points per game. If Newton fails to take care of the ball and manage the offense than Jones will get the ball.
But until then, it's Cam's offense.
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Enjoy Tanner Houck and Nathan Eovaldi today.
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