.jpg)
5 hours ago
1
The Los Angeles Lakers needed POA defense during the postseason, and that was evident. While the Lakers' center position wasn't ideal, their inability to keep guards in front of them was a major issue, and something that will continue to hurt them if they don't fix it.
Searching for ways for the Lakers to improve their defense, Fade Away World proposed a deal to land Marcus Smart of the Washington Wizards, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Award winner.
The trade would move on from Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and the No. 55 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
“Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, brings tenacity and leadership to any team he joins. In the 2024–25 season, he averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game with the Washington Wizards. His defensive intensity and experience could provide the Lakers with a much-needed perimeter stopper,” they wrote.
Smart isn't the same player he once was with the Boston Celtics, where he was a three-time All Defensive team selection.
Factor that in with some of the injuries he's dealt with, appearing in just 54 games since departing from the Celtics during the 2022-23 offseason, and it's tough to justify the Lakers giving up too much for him.
He was part of a deal as a salary dump during the trade deadline for the Memphis Grizzlies, playing on a four-year, $76.5 million deal.
There's a chance that if he's healthy, he'd be a great fit for the Lakers. However, the last thing Rob Pelinka and the Lakers want is to add a player who can't stay on the court.
English (US)