The Los Angeles Lakers, perpetual purveyors of blockbuster moves and championship aspirations, are at it again. Their latest maneuver in the high-stakes chess game of NBA free agency involves veteran guard Marcus Smart, acquired from the Washington Wizards. This isn`t merely a roster tweak; it`s a strategic declaration, a calculated gamble that signals a shifting tide within the storied franchise. While the league awaits Luka Doncic’s inevitable four-year, $229 million supermax extension, the Lakers are meticulously crafting a team around their Slovenian maestro, a team that, on paper, should contend. But as always in the City of Angels, the devil is in the details, and sometimes, the gamble might just be a little too calculated.
The Enforcer Arrives: A Two-Year Bet
Marcus Smart, a 31-year-old guard, joins the Lakers on a two-year, $11 million contract, with a player option for the second season. This move, following the earlier additions of Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, is designed to fortify the team’s core. To accommodate Smart and stay below the first salary apron, the Lakers are reportedly clearing cap space by waiving Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin, a common practice in the intricate world of NBA finances. The Lakers leveraged their salary exception to secure Smart, ensuring he receives more than the veteran minimum, a testament to their perceived need for his unique skillset.
Smart`s pedigree is undeniable. In 2022, he earned the coveted NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, a rare feat for a guard in a league often dominated by rim protectors. He`s a three-time All-Defensive First Team selection, a relentless competitor, and a vocal leader. For nine seasons, he was the heart and soul of the Boston Celtics, drafted sixth overall in 2014, embodying their gritty identity. At his peak, he was a defensive bulldog, capable of hounding the league`s most potent perimeter scorers into submission. The question, however, isn`t about his past, but his present and future.
The Fading Spark? Smart`s Current Value
The transition from Boston to Memphis, then to Washington, has been anything but smooth for Smart. Once a defensive titan, he appears, as the Italian press subtly put it, “worn out.” In the last two seasons, injuries have limited him to just 54 games out of a possible 164. His offensive efficiency has dipped, with his shooting percentage from the field plummeting below 36% last season with the Grizzlies. While never a prolific three-point shooter, his current struggles risk him being “systematically ignored” by opposing defenses on the perimeter, undermining his overall utility.
One might attribute some of his recent performance decline to the lack of motivation playing for non-playoff bound teams like Memphis and Washington. After all, it`s hard to muster peak defensive intensity when the season feels like a foregone conclusion. Yet, the undeniable physical toll, reflected in his reduced effectiveness and the stark drop in his contract value (from over $20 million annually to just over $5 million), speaks volumes. It`s a pragmatic acceptance of a player who, while still capable, is no longer the perpetual motion machine he once was.
Luka`s Praetorian Guard: A Strategic Shift
The ideal Marcus Smart would be a godsend for the Lakers, an immediate defensive upgrade to complement Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on the perimeter, both of whom could certainly use a tenacious partner. Smart, at his best, is physical, even “nasty” in his approach, a true antagonist who thrives under pressure. He relishes the challenge of guarding the opposing team`s premier scorer.
Intriguingly, Doncic himself appears to have played a pivotal role in recruiting Smart, anointing him, in a metaphorical sense, as one of his “Praetorians.” This is a notable departure from recent Lakers tradition, where LeBron James’s influence, often channeled through Klutch Sports, held significant sway over market maneuvers. The impending change in Lakers ownership, with billionaire Mark Walter poised to finalize the acquisition, seems to be a catalyst for this strategic pivot. The franchise is clearly signaling that the future, and its decision-making nucleus, now revolves firmly around Doncic.
Building Around a Supernova: The Championship Puzzle
With Doncic`s four-year, $229 million extension looming (a formality expected to be finalized after August 2nd), the Lakers are in full “ring-chasing” mode, attempting to construct a championship-caliber roster around him. Deandre Ayton undoubtedly represents an upgrade at center over someone like Alex Len, and Smart is a clear improvement over Shake Milton. Yet, both Ayton and Smart come with their own set of questions: Ayton`s consistency and intensity have been criticized, while Smart seems to be operating “on fumes.”
The acquisition of Jake LaRavia, a 23-year-old versatile forward with secondary creation skills, helps mitigate the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets. However, as the saying goes, “superstars are made differently,” and LaRavia, while promising, is not that caliber of player. The Lakers, it seems, are doing what they can, making calculated improvements without triggering a seismic roster overhaul. These are short-term, low-cost bets on veteran talent. If they pan out, the risk will have been worth it.
The Road Ahead: Revolution or Redemption?
The stakes are undeniably high. If these shrewd, yet somewhat speculative, moves don`t yield the desired results, the impending conclusion of LeBron James`s contract (at 41 years old) in 12 months, coupled with the finalized ownership transition, could herald a complete “Revolution.” In such a scenario, Luka Doncic would likely emerge as the sole, undisputed cornerstone of the franchise.
For now, the Lakers are playing it safe, or rather, as safe as a team with championship aspirations can be. They are bringing in reinforcements specifically tailored to Doncic’s preferences, ensuring that his signature on that colossal contract extension remains a certainty, free from any dramatic last-minute twists. It`s a dance between ambition and pragmatism, a subtle pivot towards a future defined by their young superstar, with Marcus Smart serving as a fascinating, and potentially pivotal, piece in this unfolding narrative.
