With the season being roughly one-tenth of the way through, I figured we could do a check-in on the two of the major offseason acquisitions, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marcus Smart, who were signed to contracts paying them $3,524,115 and $6,064,00 this season, respectively.
Marcus Smart brings a lot more to the table for the Rockets than what appears in the box score. His defensive abilities, constant energy, and ability to make opposing guards miserable earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022.
He brings another veteran presence to a young Rockets locker room. He will not be expected to score each night, but his ball-handling, shot creation, and the ability to make timely shots will make him a key piece of the Rockets’ rotation.
So far this season, Marcus is averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting 38.7% from three and 44.2% from the field. The field goal percentage is trending higher than his career average, as it three-point shooting, which is incredibly encouraging. Smart also had a stellar game vs. the Thunder, where he scored 24 points and made 7 three-pointers.
Bogdan Bogdanovic provides the Rockets with a specific set of skills
Houston needs perimeter shooting, and the 38% three-point shooter for his entire NBA career provides that. Bogdanovic can also create off the dribble at the second level of the offense and make shots when the main offensive players are on the bench or under heavy defensive pressure. He can create off the dribble at the second level of the offense and can make shots when the main offensive players are on the bench or under heavy pressure from the defense. This season, Bogdanovic is averaging 5.6 points per game, which does not seem like a lot, but he is shooting a blistering 45.5% from three. Any team can use that.
Bogdanovic is an excellent attacking addition to this year’s sqaud. He can shoot, create off the dribble and space the floor, so he meets many of the Rockets’ needs. However, his health and consistency will determine the effectiveness of this signing.
What is interesting about both of these acquisitions is the varying amounts of impact that each can bring to a game. Smart is brought in for his defense, energy, and leadership. Bogdanovic brings shooting, creation on offense, and floor spacing. Both players bring experience to Houston’s young core and can help ease the transition of some of the young players into more rotation minutes as they continue to grow. They can be of use to players like Reed Sheppard by having veteran players on the team to help support the young players and to allow for more flexibility with lineups.
Ultimately, the value of both of these players will be determined by how they perform in games of consequence. Houston is trying to build a team of players that can help get them past the first round in the postseason, not just a collection of veterans and youngsters. If I had to give a grade for the two signings so far, I would give the Bogdonovic signing an A, and the Marcus Smart signing an A- only because Smart has missed time with an injury already.
Thats all for today! Make sure to let me know what you all think about the signings in the comments, and as always make sure to check back at The Dream Shake for all things Houston Rockets coverage.
