Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart and Shane Larkin all missed the last two games for the Boston Celtics, thus leaving Terry Rozier as the only active true point guard available for coach Brad Stevens.

It’s safe to say that Rozier has answered the call to duty.

Posting his first-career triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in 33 minutes of a 103-73 rout over the New York Knicks on Wednesday, he delivered yet again on Friday in a 119-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks, putting up a career-high 31 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that the third-year guard has a world of potential if given extended minutes in a high-usage role. Although he has played 23.6 minutes per contest this season, he has averaged 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.

Part of the reason why Rozier has not been able to completely take over the second unit has been the presence of Marcus Smart. Despite being known for his defensive skills, Smart holds a 19.6 usage rate, which ranks slightly ahead of Rozier’s 19.3. They rank fourth and fifth respectively on the Celtics in that regard.

Although Irving and Larkin have basketball-related injuries, Smart is dealing with a lacerated hand that he suffered while punching a glass picture frame at the team hotel during a recent road trip. He will remain out for a few more games while the embarrassing injury heals.

But, he might not log another minute while wearing a Celtics jersey.

“You talk about Marcus Smart, he’s a player that’s available for a first round pick. If a team was willing to give Boston a first, Boston would look at,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said in the latest edition of his podcast. “If they didn’t have to take back a lot of money going out in the future. He’s restricted this summer, you don’t know what it will cost to keep him.”

Woj continued, “He’s proven he can help you win a playoff game or two. He doesn’t shoot great from 3-point line, some of the things you want from a guard in this day and age. He defends, he’s super competitive. But they can’t pay everybody in Boston and they’re going to have to make decisions. But does a team want to give up a first for a player when they don’t know what it will cost to keep him. I’m not sure that will happen. But I think certainly if they were going to make a move with one of their core guys, there’s potential that it’s going to be Smart.”

Smart will be a restricted free agent in the summer and Boston could run the risk of losing him with no compensation if he signs an offer sheet with another team and the Celtics decide not to match it. Therefore, from Boston’s perspective, a trade might make sense, but a first-round pick might be a steep price to pay from another team's perspective, unless he’d be going to a playoff-bound club.

“When you trade a first for a player when you know he’s restricted, you’ll have a qualifying offer, you usually have to exceed what you pay him,” ESPN's Bobby Marks noted to Wojnarowski. “For a team that is interested in Marcus Smart you better be doing your homework on the market this summer, figure out what other guards are going to be out there and what would be a home for him. I have a hard time if it’s not Boston, where else is there a home. Two years ago he would be a player who would be getting $13-15 million, now you’re looking in that $8-10 range.”

It remains to be seen if Smart is sent packing or not. Since Boston is rumored to be in the market for both Lou Williams and Tyreke Evans, he could very well end up in either Los Angeles or Memphis before the February 8 deadline passes.