The Lakers signed their new defensive leader in Marcus Smart

Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Heading into the offseason, LA had two apparent roster deficiencies to solve. The first was finding a starting-level center, addressed by signing DeAndre Ayton, immediately followed by the need to add a defensive-minded guard or wing to fit between Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić.

Enter Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year winner, who gives the Lakers the player and culture-setting leader they’ve been searching for on that end of the floor. The Oklahoma state product is heading into his

12th NBA season, coming off a year in which he played the second-lowest number of games in his career at 34.

LA acquired Smart following a buyout from the Washington Wizards, with the only real cost being the need to cut Jordan Goodwin to make room for his salary. They inked the guard to a two-year, $11-million deal, which includes a player option for the second season, minimal risk and potential for high reward on a roster desperate for what he brings when he’s right.

Listed at 6’3” with a 6’9” wingspan, Smart terrorizes opposing ball handlers, able to hawk down players on the perimeter for steals and deflections. A loose or out-of-control dribble is a license for a turnover with his quick and disruptive hands.

Here, RJ Barrett attempts a crossover in traffic and Smart cleanly picks it.

His last season with relative health was the 2022-2023 season, during which he played 61 games. According to the NBA’s tracking data, he registered a steal percentage of 33.6 that year, ranking eighth among all guards who entered a minimum of 40 games.

Listed at 220 pounds, Smart provides a much-needed level of tenacity and power at the guard position. A player who’s been undersized since the day he was drafted, Smart is no stranger to battling against perceived mismatches.

He utilizes a strong frame and low center of gravity to make it difficult for players looking to take advantage of his lack of size. Smart adds a switchable defender to a team that is desperately in need of versatility on that end.

Watch below as Smart fights against the defender, looking to post him up. He pushes him outside of his comfort zone and gets a hand on the ball for the steal going the other way.

While still being just 31 years old, he’s accrued a ton of miles on his legs, including 108 playoff games to go with a 635 regular-season total. He’s had a series of injuries over the past few seasons and no longer moves the way he did after making three First Team All-Defensive teams in four seasons. Speedy guards can pick on those legs and lack of lateral quickness at the point of attack.

With that being said, Smart brings a high level of credibility and cache for LA on the defensive end of the floor. He acts as a clear-cut, respected voice in a veteran locker room. Being a voice recruited by Luka doesn’t hurt either.

On offense, Smart can shift between the perfect complementary connecting piece to a player on a solo trip to unknown lands. His offensive rollercoaster has reached extremes in both highs and lows.

Smart has thrived next to other ball-dominant players in the past, such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. As a starting guard, he has played in five Eastern Conference finals, including one trip to the NBA Finals.

In the 2022-23 season with the Celtics, he averaged a career high of 6.3 assists. He has a solid understanding of when to make the next pass against a compromised defense.

In addition, he can be relied on to run some secondary pick-and-roll actions. Watch below as he controls at the top with a stack action, hitting the weak side corner shooter on target.

Some questionable turnovers and shot selection can often cancel out the good passing and shot reads he’s capable of. He’s prone to isolation possessions where the ball stops, leading to heavy over-dribbling.

The new Laker shot 42.9% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season for Washington on extremely low volume. His career 32% 3-point shooting is a better indicator of what to expect going forward.

He will purposely be left open and given bait to take the offense into his own hands. He’ll respond at times by mixing in questionable pull-up jump shots and wild forays to the rim for contested layups or floaters like the one below.

There is optimism that will be less of a concern here, as his contract has dipped and his level in the team’s offensive hierarchy is lower than it’s ever been since his rookie season.

Since the Lakers traded Anthony Davis for Luka, there was a void for a defensive leader and culture setter. Smart can instantly step in and fill that role, a player that head coach J.J. Redick can lean on.

An argument can be made that Smart should start over forward Rui Hachimura. His fit alongside the big three in Luka, Reaves, and LeBron James fits cleaner on paper.

NBA games aren’t played on paper, though, and the Lakers are betting on him returning to form from his play a few seasons ago. Smart has undoubtedly missed a lot of time, but even at just a fraction of the player he was in Boston, the Lakers would have their best perimeter defender in some time.

You can follow Raj on Twitter at @RajChipalu

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