3 players the Houston Rockets should want from the Celtics

1. Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart is a relentless defender, which is evident by the fact that he made the All-Defensive team last season and received votes during each of the previous three years as well. Smart ranks 41st this season in defensive win shares, and finished 34th during the 2018-19 season.

Smart also has a defensive field goal percentage of 41.3 percent, which would be second-best on the Houston Rockets this season, not including Chris Clemons, who rarely plays.

Smart is having a career year from an offensive standpoint, as he’s averaging 12.4 points per game this season on 35.2 percent from long-range. Smart has become a much better 3-point shooter over the years, as he shot 29.3 percent from downtown over his first four years combined, compared to 35.8 percent over the course of his last two seasons.

We’ve seen Smart play through injuries time and time again and we’ve also seen the battles he’s had with James Harden over the years as well. The Texas-native finished third in total steals during the 2018-19 season, and ranks 23rd this season as well.

As Smart is only 25-years-old, he would be a great addition to the Rockets and his style of play would be a natural fit in Mike D’Antoni’s 3-point heavy offense as 58.8 percent of his shot attempts this season have come from 3-point range.

Smart is also under contract through the 2021-22 season, which is two more years. This means he would be linked with Russell Westbrook and James Harden, assuming he doesn’t get traded down the line, which can never be assumed with Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey.