The Los Angeles Lakers signed Marcus Smart after his buyout from the Wizards, but the move will blow up in their faces. His two-year $10.5 million contract doesn’t sound cumbersome, but Smart has averaged just 27 games per year over the last two seasons. Even when healthy, the 6’3 guard has lost some of his quickness and versatility. Smart can no longer do the thing the Lakers need most.
Fans remember him as an elite defender on the Celtics, but Boston traded him in 2023 in part because they saw some decline. The former Defensive Player of the Year has averaged 11.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 23.8 minutes per game since leaving the franchise that drafted him. Smart can still make plays, but he is best guarding two through four at this stage. The Lakers need him at the point of attack, which could cause issues.
The biggest question mark is his fit with Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Smart is a below-average 3-point shooter and gets much of his offensive value from being a playmaker. The Lakers have three ball-handlers ahead of him, which will only make this move look worse.
Lakers will instantly regret Marcus Smart signing
Los Angeles needs him to be a lockdown defender. They have Luka, LeBron, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton locked into their starting five. None of those four should be expected to take the nightly on-ball defensive assignment. The battle for the final spot will be between Smart and Rui Hachimura, but the new signing has a significant edge in guarding on the ball.
The Lakers need Smart to be healthy and productive. Putting him in a role where he will be forced to expend significant energy every night taking on elite guards is not the ideal path to keeping him on the floor. LA is asking too much of the veteran and will quickly regret it when he cannot fill their void.
Smart is known for his leadership and energy. Those traits could be impactful for the Lakers or go the opposite way. Fans have seen LeBron’s team quickly move on from energy players like Patrick Beverley. If Smart’s biggest impact is not his defensive production, things could blow up fast.
The Los Angeles Lakers hope he bounces back. The Grizzlies struggled with Smart and were quick to move on as they looked to save money to extend Jaren Jackson Jr. this offseason. Washington had zero need for Smart as they rebuild. The buyout was best for both sides. The 6'3 guard is back on a contender and eager to prove he can still be impactful.
This could be Marcus Smart’s last chance. The 31-year-old must stay healthy and prove he helps a contender win games. The Lakers desperately need him, which will make things look even worse if he struggles. This is likely headed for a blowup. Fans have certainly been warned.