Celtics guard Marcus Smart officially signed a 4-year, $52 million contract to remain with the team. Smart, a restricted free agent, could have signed an offer sheet with another team but elected to stay in Boston long-term.
“I think we demonstrated the talent and the ability we had to do that last year with a few missing pieces,” Smart said about staying with the team. “With those missing pieces back in action, I think it really makes it hard for us to beat.”
Summer League Recap
The Celtics’ young role players got the opportunity to shine during the Las Vegas Summer League, and a few of them took full advantage.
Jabari Bird led the team in scoring with 16.8 points per game to go with averages of six rebounds and three assists. Guerschon Yabusele and Semi Ojeleye also averaged 12.8 and 12.4 points, respectively, to round out the team’s double-digit scorers.
Rookie Robert Williams played only six minutes before exiting his first game with knee tendinitis. Williams did not return to action for the duration of the summer.
Celtics Waive Abdel Nader
The Celtics waived Abdel Nader after one season with the team in which he averaged just three points in 48 games.
Nader’s $1.4 million contract would have become fully guaranteed if he was not waived by Aug. 1. Boston now has one more roster spot to fill with a free agent or Summer League star Jabari Bird, who was on a two-way contract last season.
