The Los Angeles Lakers did not just add Marcus Smart to round out the bench. They brought him in to restore something the team has lacked since their 2020 championship run — a real, gritty, defensive identity.
Smart signing is a bold move that could rebuild LA’s defensive heartbeat
Smart, one of the league’s most respected perimeter defenders, joins L.A. on a two-year, $11 million deal after a buyout with the Washington Wizards, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move does not contain a big-time star.
But it does have the potential to become one of the most meaningful acquisitions of the offseason.