Why Marcus Smart Should Be the Boston Celtics' Starting Point Guard

The Boston Celtics didn't trade Rajon Rondo to keep Marcus Smart on the bench. The Celtics have been in transition ever since they traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, but now, without Rondo, they're officially in rebuild mode.

This whole season is a learning process for the Celtics, and their main focus should be on developing the young players. The best way to develop a prized rookie is by having confidence in him and inserting him right into the starting lineup.

Despite Evan Turner's dazzling stat line of 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, the Celtics still find themselves outside of the ultra-competitive Eastern Conference playoff race. There really is no excuse for Smart not seeing at least 30 minutes of playing time each night.

The Celtics have too much talent to tank for a top pick, but they're not a legitimate playoff team, either. Even if they somehow manage to sneak into the playoffs, it's highly unlikely that they'll do anything but get swept in the first round.

The Celtics shouldn't concern themselves with wins and losses. Their only goal should be to see potential from their young players. If that means winning, then all the better.

With over half the season in the books, Smart has averaged 6.5 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 24 minutes per game. The stats may not be overwhelming, but the jump from college to the NBA is enormous. Even some of the best players didn't enter the league and dominate right away.

In his rookie season, James Harden averaged 9.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 22.9 minutes per game. It wasn't until his third season that he established himself as a star. But each year, he kept getting better. All the Celtics can hope for with Smart is that he shows steady improvement.

So even if Smart is struggling, coach Brad Stevens should leave him in there and let him figure it out. He certainly isn't going to get any better sitting on the bench.

The harsh reality is that Boston is years away from seriously competing for another title, but whenever Smart loses minutes to players like Turner or Marcus Thornton, the Celtics are just delaying his development. The Celtics have invested greatly in Smart, and they need to give him every opportunity to prove that he can be a franchise player.

The Boston Celtics are a storied franchise, but they've had their fair share of struggles. Yes, they won a championship in 2008, but general manager Danny Ainge can't rest on that for the rest of his career.

We will be patient with the Celtics throughout their rebuilding process, but it's time they start preparing for a Smart future.