While it's very probable the delay in signing Marcus Smart is tied to Kawhi Leonard's trade to the Toronto Raptors, it's certainly not the trigger most of expected to getting a deal inked.
Celtics GM Danny Ainge and Happy Walters, the agent for restricted free agent guard Marcus Smart, are now seriously engaged in contract talks, league sources tell ESPN. Potential deal range is in the four-year, $46M-$50M range, sources tell ESPN. Talks ongoing.
And it may turn out that the two moves occurred in proximity only by coincidence, but weeks into the summer free agency period of 2018, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Smart's agent Happy Walters and the Celtics are seriously engaged in talks on a new deal in the four year, $46-50 million range.