The Los Angeles Lakers need Marcus Smart to be a lockdown defender, but fans haven’t seen that version since he left Boston. LA has plenty of offense with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves leading their charge. They need someone capable of guarding on the ball and creating havoc defensively. Smart is the team’s best option, but the last two years suggest this signing may turn into a disaster.
The 6’3 guard has played just 54 total games in the last two seasons and has not been the Defensive Player of the Year fans remember from his days with the Celtics. Injuries have played a factor, but Smart also produced the worst defensive box score plus-minus of his career last season. He has transitioned more to guarding wings and has been exposed by some of the league’s quickest guards.
The Lakers need Smart to be their primary on-ball defender. He got his wish to be back on a contender. Is that enough to bring back the Smart that fans remember? This problem isn’t going away with success because LA must be careful not to overextend Smart and risk another injury. There is no easy answer.
Lakers' Marcus Smart problem has no simple solution
They need the 31-year-old to be in top shape and ready to take on the challenge of chasing around the best scorers in the world. He has proven to be an elite defender when in peak form. The Grizzlies struggled mightily with injuries in the 2023-24 campaign, and Smart was relegated to the bench last season. Still, Luka and the Lakers targeted him. They believe in his defensive abilities, so hopefully, that is enough to help him turn things around.
Smart is a 6’3 guard who’s over 30. Expecting peak production seems unlikely. Fans saw his decline begin in his final season with the Celtics. He can still be an impactful defender, even if he is no longer a first-team All-Defensive option.
The Lakers have to manage his minutes to maximize his impact. There will be lineups where they struggle to defend at the point of attack. LA can’t play Smart all 48 minutes, no matter how well he is performing. It is on JJ Redick to figure out how much production they can get from Smart and to do everything possible to keep him on the floor.
Redick has a difficult decision to make starting on opening night. Does he stick with Rui Hachimura in the starting five or insert the better-fitting Smart? Both players struggled in bench roles, so this will likely be the first sign of how the new Laker looks. If Smart is the better fit and looks ready to be a lockdown defender, he will start on opening night guarding Stephen Curry.
The Los Angeles Lakers will have no issues scoring, but problems exist on the defensive end. Marcus Smart could cure their biggest ills, but that is a lot to ask of someone who has played just 54 games in the last two years.
Redick and the Lakers hope this problem solves itself. That is far from a guarantee, but fans can dream. The franchise saw something to believe in. Hopefully, Smart rewards that faith, and this turns into a slam dunk addition.