The Los Angeles Lakers recently signed Marcus Smart to a two-year, $11 million deal after he departed from the Washington Wizards.
Smart established himself as one of the best role players in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and even won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022.
He has spent the last two seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Wizards, respectively, and struggled to have the same impact.
NBA expert Nick Wright is not convinced that the guard will rekindle his old form in LA next season.
Smart’s biggest issue since leaving the Celtics has been injuries. The 31-year-old has played just 54 out of a possible 164 regular-season games in the last two seasons.
Wright does not believe Smart’s struggles were a coincidence, suggesting that the reason was his tenacious style of play, which does not bode well for the Lakers.
“He is a guy who, because of his toughness and style, has aged much faster than he otherwise would, you know what I mean? He has taken so many hits, so many charges, so many falls that he is an old 31,” he explained.
“People are like, ‘ He won Defensive Player of the Year a few years ago.’ That player is long gone. Do I think you might be able to get 16 good minutes of him in the playoffs? I think that’s got to be the hope.
“Hit some open threes, which he’s been passable at. If we keep your usage down low and, for the first time since being traded from Boston, you’re in a real championship-aspirational organization, do we get the best out of you?
“I don’t dislike it, but I just think he’s the oldest 31-year-old in the league because of how tough he’s played forever.”
With Smart and Deandre Ayton recently added to the Lakers roster, they should have the depth to contend next season.
Wright’s co-star Chris Broussard thinks the addition of Marcus Smart will improve the Lakers, who are otherwise short of perimeter defenders.
However, he still believes the Lakers are only the fifth-best team in the Western Conference heading into the 2025-26 season.
“His problem is health, and that’s related to age and the wear and tear,” Broussard said. “But if he’s healthy, I think he can be effective for them.
“He’s not the defender he used to be, but for them, especially, because they don’t have great perimeter defenders, he can help.
“I think Denver, OKC, Houston, and Minnesota are still ahead of them, but I think this gets them a tad bit closer.”
