Danny Ainge on potential Marcus Smart extension: We have had conversations

Marcus Smart surprised a lot of people this week when he said the Celtics have yet to contact him or his agent for negotiations about a possible extension.

“Me and my agent haven’t heard anything from the Celtics,” Smart said after another impressive preseason performance on Monday. “And, like you said, a week (before) the deadline and everybody else out here, and you’re seeing everybody else’s numbers and things like that. So we’re just kind of waiting.”

However, Danny Ainge denied that he hadn't spoken with Smart about an extension after playing in a Shamrock Foundation fundraiser at the Old Sandwich Golf Club on Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t say we haven’t started talking," Ainge said when asked about Smart's remarks. "We have had some conversations, but we haven’t really got into negotiating. But we’ve had conversation.”

When asked to further elaborate on those remarks, Ainge played it close to the vest:

“That doesn’t mean anything more than I’m not really going to talk any more about my negotiations with Marcus," he said. "Love Marcus. He’s having a great training camp. He had a great summer. I’m looking forward to the best year of his career.”

The Celtics have until midnight on October 16th to reach an extension with the 23-year-old guard.

“I would love to (land an extension),” Smart said Monday night. “I would love to. I love Boston. I was drafted here. I’m the longest-tenured Celtic. The city is great, this organization is great. I would love to be here. Like I said, we’re just waiting.”

More extensive analysis on whether Smart will be able to reach an extension with the Celtics will be coming on the Boston Sports Journal on Thursday.