[Shams] Marcus Smart to the L.A. Lakers 2 years/$11 million, after Wizards buyout

[AFM]

Why did the Wizards buy him out? Don't get it from their point of view tbh. Solid pickup for the Lakers I guess. Or is he that washed?

We picked up a 1st round pick just to carry his salary for a season. We had to cut 2 players this week to get down to the limit, and we for sure aren't cutting any of our young guys.

[FrobeBryant]

What people are missing is the Lakers got him for nothing. He was really one of the best options available for the BAE and it addressed a need, which was POA defense. At the very least, Luka pushed for him which makes it worth the pick up.

[mademan]

Helps when every couple of years youre gifted a top 3 player

Unless you're being generous with calling Dwight Howard a top 3 player, it's been 3 in about 30 years. But keep licking your salt block.

no salt to lick back. Lakers win, but its hilarious not to account for the advantage they have. They get gifted superstars (arguing about top three or not is semantics) every couple of years while the vast majority of teams never do. Congrats?

[TrueLAfan]

Last year he was out with thumb injuries. He struggled with knee injuries the year before, but they were just knee contusions (no structural damage). In his on-court minutes last year, he looked fine in terms of mobility. Marcus Smart could continue to get hit with injuries but he's 31 and doesn't have a career-altering injury. I'm curious why you think he's washed due to injury. Is it because he's missed so much time the past 2 seasons? Or do you have a reason to think he's legitimately declined?

Some guys do hit their 30s pretty banged up and don't extend their prime. That is possible with Smart. I think there's plenty of reason to wait and see how he looks before calling him dead.

The obvious comp, in pretty much every way, is Kris Dunn. Same age. Same size. Same strengths. Same weaknesses. Some of the strengths and weaknesses are greater in degree with one player than the other, but still. Smart is/was a better defender—but Kris Dunn is a very good defender. Neither is a good shooter, but Dunn is better (which ain’t saying much). Smart had the higher peak, but has had the noted injury issues … and those can seriously affect a defensive player like Smart. Dunn just came off a season where he played 74 games and was healthy. I can’t see a whole lot of difference between them now.

And that makes it a good pickup for the Lakers. If they can get 60 games and 1500 minutes out of Smart, he’ll be worth every cent they pay for him and more. He’s not a world beater. At this point in his career, and coming off the injuries, he’s probably not a starter. But he’s a quality guy to have in the mid-back end of your rotation. He fills a need … like Kris Dunn did and does.

[tamaraw08]

Not even hating, I loved Lakers off season two years ago when they got Reeves back on that number. This is like a C offseason.

Read on Twitter

ayton such a bum he got bought out and blazers ate a bunch of dead money to just get him off the team. who even is jake laravia? smart had to have a first attached to trade him in February

They didn't add these 3 w/o a cost, they gave up DFS who is a better player than any of these 3.

DFS will be missed surely. Loved his defense and bbiq playing next to Luka.

That’s said, Lakers really needed to upgrade their center and went from starting Hayes to adding Ayton, a sure lob threat with warts but still a lot of upside.

Smart, it’s on BAE deal! As our defensive player, What’s not to like?

LaRavia is hopefully the DFS replacement. Lot of smart people think he is underrated so we will see soon enough.

Overall, lost DFS but added a starting center, kept Hayes as backup, then added LaRavia for wing help and Smart as our POA defender we lost trading away Max Christie last year.

Then added Adou as our freak athlete in the draft.

Lots to love here and still not done.

My biggest concern about Smart is not health but 3pt shooting,
Laker's 2 of 3 arguably of best defenders were Vando and Goodwin and JJ barely played them in the playoffs because they were huge liabilities on offense.
Not a few are pinning their hopes that Smart shot great in Washington but 15 games is such a small sample as compared to 600+ game when he shot below 32.5% from the 3pt line.
DFS was the only ONE who can both defend AND hit 3's imo and they lost him.

[Ballings7]

Decent move for Lakers.. Smart probably won't be what he was at end of Boston run, but he's still an effective D combo guard, who has a streaky but unreliable 3PT shot, and can exploit some mismatches in the paint as a bigger guard.

His most value for them apart from defense + hustle, will be his ability to give Luka a break on PG duties.

Lakers haven't had a stand-out offseason but have gotten better and addressed areas of need with decent adds. I also think LaRavia is going to be kind of an upgrade over DFS, as a whole because he's a better offensive player than DFS, while still being a factor defensively.

Reeves/Luka/LeBron is still going to be an issue at the end of games, though.. JJ will need to figure that out on both ends, and there'll need to be some sacrifice from everyone.. mostly LeBron/Reeves.

[John Murdoch]

2gaurd version Vando but def worth a dart throw for how bad rest of our point of attack defense is

Now we jus need a big wing dude ill literally take any of the Knicks ones for Reaves

[cupcakesnake]

Last year he was out with thumb injuries. He struggled with knee injuries the year before, but they were just knee contusions (no structural damage). In his on-court minutes last year, he looked fine in terms of mobility. Marcus Smart could continue to get hit with injuries but he's 31 and doesn't have a career-altering injury. I'm curious why you think he's washed due to injury. Is it because he's missed so much time the past 2 seasons? Or do you have a reason to think he's legitimately declined?

Some guys do hit their 30s pretty banged up and don't extend their prime. That is possible with Smart. I think there's plenty of reason to wait and see how he looks before calling him dead.

The obvious comp, in pretty much every way, is Kris Dunn. Same age. Same size. Same strengths. Same weaknesses. Some of the strengths and weaknesses are greater in degree with one player than the other, but still. Smart is/was a better defender—but Kris Dunn is a very good defender. Neither is a good shooter, but Dunn is better (which ain’t saying much). Smart had the higher peak, but has had the noted injury issues … and those can seriously affect a defensive player like Smart. Dunn just came off a season where he played 74 games and was healthy. I can’t see a whole lot of difference between them now.

And that makes it a good pickup for the Lakers. If they can get 60 games and 1500 minutes out of Smart, he’ll be worth every cent they pay for him and more. He’s not a world beater. At this point in his career, and coming off the injuries, he’s probably not a starter. But he’s a quality guy to have in the mid-back end of your rotation. He fills a need … like Kris Dunn did and does.

Yeah I like the Dunn comp. Very similar height and length + versatile defensive ability.

Kris Dunn really is at that level on defense now where you can compare him to any guard defender. He's an elite ballhhawker who can also help and disrupt plays all over the court.

If Smart can get back to that level (where he's one of the best guard defenders in the whole league), that's a massive get for the Lakers and nice comeback for Smart. At Smart's peak, I don't think he was as quick or athletic as Dunn, but he was stronger and smarter. What Dunn does with his athleticism, Smart would do with anticipation and grit (not that Dunn is a slouch in that area). Smart used to be so good at dropping into the paint to make things awkward for guys before they could get vertical.

Smart's been forgotten, and he badly needs a real season to get back into the picture. Another injury riddled season and his NBA career will be at risk of ending.

[KIRAG]

It's weird to see him in purple and gold, but for the price, it's a good pick up and I am happy for him even if it's with the Lakers. Fun fact: He still holds the Celtics franchise record for most three-pointers made in a single game

[RRyder823]

Not even hating, I loved Lakers off season two years ago when they got Reeves back on that number. This is like a C offseason.

Read on Twitter

ayton such a bum he got bought out and blazers ate a bunch of dead money to just get him off the team. who even is jake laravia? smart had to have a first attached to trade him in February

They didn't add these 3 w/o a cost, they gave up DFS who is a better player than any of these 3.

Lol DFS is an okay role player, Ayton is a star they're not even comparable.

How high were you when you typed that?



Sent from my SM-S918U using RealGM mobile app

[SeanieWard]

Exactly kinda signing they need. An excellent defender and extra guard.


If smart still has it, bench Reaves and use him as dangerous 6man.

This. That's "If" he still has it. Ever since he won DPOY he seemed to have fallen off the face of the universe. He's always been one to miss a lot of games but I was for sure him going to Memphis with Ja and another defensive phenom in JJJ would make Memphis a serious contender out West but that obviously didn't happen.

I like this move for the Lakers a lot. I still don't get why LeBron wants to leave if the rumor is true. Lakers were one of the best teams in the league after they traded for Luka and even I knew they would have trouble with Minny but now they have Ayton which is better than anything that had last year after trading away AD. Lakers are a threat to anyone if healthy imo

[Dacost]

If I had to describe Marcus Smart time in Memphis it would be "Fat and unathletic "

Dude put up around 40 lbs after Boston .Boston saw it coming and trade it him.

As a memphis fan I laugh when people said this guys were good signing because they got them for cheap.

Laravia suppose to be China right now and Smart is so out of shape that he should retire.

[Karmaloop]

no salt to lick back. Lakers win, but its hilarious not to account for the advantage they have. They get gifted superstars (arguing about top three or not is semantics) every couple of years while the vast majority of teams never do. Congrats?

Gifted? They've had 3 major acquisitions, and 2 of them (Shaq and LBJ) came as FAs. And LeBron joined a young roster that hadn't had a winning season in 6 years. If you want to say the Lakers were gifted Luka Doncic, I wouldn't fight too hard. But gifted because Shaq and LBJ signed as FAs?

[Liam_Gallagher]

Waiving Goodwin really sucks.

[LarryBirdsFingr]

Lebron is going to lose his mind after about the 5th missed layup

[NCHeels2008]

No matter what happens no matter which player the Lakers will sign/trade every non Lakers fans will be negative

Lolll

If Morey, the Rockets or Presti got Ayton, Smart and LaRavia for next to nothing while only losing DFS you'd get a bunch of chin stroking about how smart the organization was to move on from the older wing who had a career year to take a risk on an athletic young center who was coveted just a few years ago, to take a flyer on an up and coming role player like LaRavia and see if Smart can regain his health and be a 6th-8th man.

[-Spyda-]

No matter what happens no matter which player the Lakers will sign/trade every non Lakers fans will be negative

Lolll

If Morey, the Rockets or Presti got Ayton, Smart and LaRavia for next to nothing while only losing DFS you'd get a bunch of chin stroking about how smart the organization was to move on from the older wing who had a career year to take a risk on an athletic young center who was coveted just a few years ago, to take a flyer on an up and coming role player like LaRavia and see if Smart can regain his health and be a 6th-8th man.

100%

[tamaraw08]

Last year he was out with thumb injuries. He struggled with knee injuries the year before, but they were just knee contusions (no structural damage). In his on-court minutes last year, he looked fine in terms of mobility. Marcus Smart could continue to get hit with injuries but he's 31 and doesn't have a career-altering injury. I'm curious why you think he's washed due to injury. Is it because he's missed so much time the past 2 seasons? Or do you have a reason to think he's legitimately declined?

Some guys do hit their 30s pretty banged up and don't extend their prime. That is possible with Smart. I think there's plenty of reason to wait and see how he looks before calling him dead.

The obvious comp, in pretty much every way, is Kris Dunn. Same age. Same size. Same strengths. Same weaknesses. Some of the strengths and weaknesses are greater in degree with one player than the other, but still. Smart is/was a better defender—but Kris Dunn is a very good defender. Neither is a good shooter, but Dunn is better (which ain’t saying much). Smart had the higher peak, but has had the noted injury issues … and those can seriously affect a defensive player like Smart. Dunn just came off a season where he played 74 games and was healthy. I can’t see a whole lot of difference between them now.

And that makes it a good pickup for the Lakers. If they can get 60 games and 1500 minutes out of Smart, he’ll be worth every cent they pay for him and more. He’s not a world beater. At this point in his career, and coming off the injuries, he’s probably not a starter. But he’s a quality guy to have in the mid-back end of your rotation. He fills a need … like Kris Dunn did and does.

Yeah I like the Dunn comp. Very similar height and length + versatile defensive ability.

Kris Dunn really is at that level on defense now where you can compare him to any guard defender. He's an elite ballhhawker who can also help and disrupt plays all over the court.

If Smart can get back to that level (where he's one of the best guard defenders in the whole league), that's a massive get for the Lakers and nice comeback for Smart. At Smart's peak, I don't think he was as quick or athletic as Dunn, but he was stronger and smarter. What Dunn does with his athleticism, Smart would do with anticipation and grit (not that Dunn is a slouch in that area). Smart used to be so good at dropping into the paint to make things awkward for guys before they could get vertical.

Smart's been forgotten, and he badly needs a real season to get back into the picture. Another injury riddled season and his NBA career will be at risk of ending.

Yeah, there are similarities bet Dunn and Smart esp with their skills and strengths.... and weaknesses particularly their inability to hit 3's.
Dunn was really doing good for the Clippers even played 30 mins game 1 versus Denver.
Then Lue started to hesitate playing him more when he failed to hit open 3's. They lost by 2pts in Denver when Kris missed 8 of 9 total attempts, 1 of 6 from 3.
Game 6, Dunn just played 10 mins and just 16 when the Clippers got clobbered early at Denver for a combined 2 of 8 shots, 1 of 5 from 3.
Lakers coach also limited the Vando's PT to 12 mins while Goodwin for just 8 mins in the last playoffs.
While bad defenders get targeted by forcing switches, bad shooters also get exposed by opposing teams by simply daring them to shoot while clogging the lanes and eliminating drives.

[TheGeneral99]

Smart is the perfect fit alongside Luka...a defensive focused PG that can do the dirty work and guard elite offensive players.

Takes a ton of pressure away from Luka.

I know he's some injury issues last couple seasons but at 31 years old I think he still has some left in the tank. He had a decent end to the season with Washington on great splits.

[cupcakesnake]

no salt to lick back. Lakers win, but its hilarious not to account for the advantage they have. They get gifted superstars (arguing about top three or not is semantics) every couple of years while the vast majority of teams never do. Congrats?

Gifted? They've had 3 major acquisitions, and 2 of them (Shaq and LBJ) came as FAs. And LeBron joined a young roster that hadn't had a winning season in 6 years. If you want to say the Lakers were gifted Luka Doncic, I wouldn't fight too hard. But gifted because Shaq and LBJ signed as FAs?

The "gifted superstars" narrative started more with Pau Gasol. Now with the Luka trade, there's no way to really live that down.

Before it was rescinded, the Chris Paul trade had people furious. New Orleans was getting back Odom, Scola, Kevin Martin, and one 1st-rounder. It felt like the Lakers were getting gifted a top 5 player. Then there was Dwight Howard going there with the Magic getting only one 1st round pick, Al Harrington, and some uncertain young guys (Vooch and Aron Afflalo).

We've seen stars force their way too, though some of these don't feel like "gifts". New Orleans got maximum value in the Anthony Davis trade. 3 FRP, Ball, Hart, and Ingram was every asset the Lakers basically had.