The moment the Los Angeles Lakers signed Marcus Smart, they did not just add a player for defence; they added what should be their replacement for Gabe Vincent on the roster.
Lakers desperately needed the upgrade
This signing was not about overlap. It was about getting an upgrade. The role Vincent was brought in to fill, which was a tough and dependable 3-and-D guard with playoff experience, should fully be in Smart’s hands.
A couple of years ago, when the Lakers gave Vincent a three-year, $33 million deal in the summer of 2023, the vision was clear.