The Los Angeles Lakers signed Marcus Smart after his buyout from the Wizards, but the move will blow up in their faces. His two-year $10.5 million contract doesn’t sound cumbersome, but Smart has averaged just 27 games per year over the last two seasons. Even when healthy, the 6’3 guard has lost some of his quickness and versatility. Smart can no longer do the thing the Lakers need most.
Fans remember him as an elite defender on the Celtics, but Boston traded him in 2023 in part because they saw some decline. The former Defensive Player of the Year has averaged 11.