What will we learn about Marcus Smart's future on draft night?

Marcus Smart is about to enter free agency for the first time in his NBA career, but, for the moment, he has more important things on his mind.

“My number one focus is on my family right now,” Smart told reporters at his skills camp at Brandeis University on Wednesday. “I got a lot of stuff going on with my mom. Right now she needs all the positive thinking -- that’s where my mental focus is right now, so I haven’t really thought about free agency. That’s the last of my concerns right now. There are more important things than basketball.”

Smart's mother was diagnosed with cancer earlier this season and has been receiving treatment back in Texas. The 24-year-old guard has spent most of his offseason with her but knows he's entering a good situation for himself from a basketball standpoint when the calendar turns to July 1st.

"I'm 24 years old, the first one in my family to (go to) a college, and we're sitting here talking about possible teams that are gonna pay me," Smart. "That's a good thing to have. ... Even if it's out of your hands, either way, whatever happens, we're in good hands. That's how you've got to look at it."

A host of teams are already rumored to have interest in Smart, including Dallas, Indiana, Denver and Sacramento. Three of those squads will have significant salary cap room to make Smart an offer above the mid-level exception.

Still, the guard remains hopeful he'll be back in Boston for next season to be a part of a core that could be the top East contender for the title. 

"To be honest, I do (want to be back)," Smart said. "I just want to become the best player I can become. Each and every year, I've been getting better at things and obviously, I just want to step it up another notch and really work on myself. That's really what it's about."

We already took a closer look at the teams that could jack up the price for the Celtics in restricted free agency, but it's fair to assume all of these squads will have higher priorities on their shopping list come July 1st.

In the meantime, we'll get a better sense of Smart's status with Boston after draft night. A trade of Terry Rozier could strengthen the need to retain Smart in restricted free agency. The team won't be able to afford both players in the long-term (barring other moves), so a preemptive move of Rozier for value will clearly put a premium on Boston retaining Smart this summer.

On the flip side, the drafting of a young defensive-minded guard (De'Anthony Melton, Khyri Thomas) without Rozier being dealt could signal that the C's have a backup plan waiting in case they can't afford Smart this summer. It certainly wouldn't keep Boston from retaining Smart, but would allow the C's more depth for sign-and-trade possibilities involving the point guard.

The odds remain strongly in favor of Smart staying put for at least one more year (he could end up playing on a qualifying offer in Boston for 2018-19, which would allow him to hit unrestricted free agency next summer). Still, Thursday night we will get a better hint of exactly how strong those odds are. Stay tuned.

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