Marcus Smart for the Lakers: how will the veteran guard adapts with Luka Dončić and Lebron James?
In a turning point that will bring smiles to the faces of Lakers fans, the former defensive player of the year Marcus Smart plans to sign a two -year agreement of 11 million dollars with Los Angeles, bringing depth to a team of Lakers who needs it.
Smart, 31 years old, has spent nine years with the Boston Celtics by carving a name as one of the best and most physical defenders of the League.
Announcement
After a disappointing period of 39 games with Memphis Grizzlies, Smart was acquired at the commercial expiration by the Washington Wizards, who according to what was reported has agreed for a contract. The leading guard had to earn over $ 21 million for the club this season.
The fit in Los Angeles
Smart is not the player who was once. He has lost a step and the accidents have devastated his availability in recent years. However, assuming that Smart is asked to play a complementary role and not to be characterized by high minute appetizer, there is a good chance that it will prove enormously useful for a team of Lakers who needs a defense of the attack point.
Announcement
At 6 feet and 4 and a robust 220 pounds, Smart was historically able to protect most of the players, ranging from small guards to the former All-Star Power Paul Millsp striker. While that level of defensive fluidity is probably just a memory, its defensive Qi has not gone anywhere and it is likely that Smart injects a heavy portion of defensive know-how to the Lakers.
Offensively, Smart is a bit of a question mark, as it has always been. He will take many 3 episodes, but varies from season to season if it is justifiable given his inconsistencies out there.
For the merit of Smart, it is fully aware of its limits and therefore has never had a quick trigger. In 11 seasons, he has not yet broken 6,000 shooting attempts, and this has always been a resource of his data as he hit only 38.8% of his total shots in that arch of that arch.
The fit with Luka Dončić and Lebron James should cling to the defensive, since Smart can rotate on the best opponent’s perimeter player. Offensively, there will be questions that Dončić will have enough distance around him, if he saw a significant part of his minutes with intelligent on the floor.
Announcement
An intelligent purchase is a loss for Washington
The magicians have a small army of young players and smart would have been a strong mentor to have for this season, in particular to give defensive pointers to Bub Carrington and the debuting three Johnson.
It makes sense that Smart wanted to find himself in a more competitive situation given his age, but the magicians lost a player who could have made a clear difference behind the scenes.
Of course, not having intelligence in the roster means more minutes for the young players of the organization, who will prove to be crucial in their continuous development. But the intensity of the veteran, the ethics of work and the understanding of how to play corners are now quality on which the team will have to go without.