Marcus Smart plans to join Lakers after Wizards buy out contract
The Lakers found their wing defender with a defensive and defensive attack in goalkeeper Marcus Smart, who accepted a takeover with the Washington Wizards and plans to sign an $ 11 million two -year agreement with Los Angeles, people who are not allowed to speak publicly about the question confirmed at the time on Saturday.
Smart, the defensive player of the year 2022 when he played for the Boston Celtics, will sign his transaction contract after when he erases the exemptions. He has a player option after the 2025-26 season, which means that he can become a free agent next summer.
Lakers needed a defensive wing after the defensive AS Dorian Finney-Smith signed with the Houston Rockets.
Smart did not play in just 34 games last season, sharing time between Memphis and Washington. He treated an injury to the finger on his shooting hand last season. He collected on average 9.0 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game while pulling 39.3% on the field.
Smart, 31, only played 20 games during the 2023-24 season with the Grizzlies, his time limited by a finger injury and a sprained left foot. During his stay on the field, Smart recorded an average of 14.4 points per game and pulled 43% on the field, 31.3% on a three -point range.
Smart was at its best during his nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, making the playoffs each year. He has missed the playoffs in the past two seasons in Memphis and Washington.
He started a career summit of 71 games during the 2021-222 season, when he has an average of 32.3 minutes per game, 12.1 points and pulled 41.8% on the field, 33.1% from three points.
It was the same season that Smart was the defensive player of the year. He is also a member three times from the first fully defensive team of the NBA.
With a rear area of departure from Luka Da Bounteic and Austin Reaves, two players not known for their defense, the Lakers really needed a player with a defensive spirit like Smart.
The 3 -foot 3 inch smarts is size, strength (220 pounds) and athletics to defend three positions – point guards, shooting guards and small attackers.
Its addition soon, as well as that of the Center Deandre Ayton and striker Jake Laravia, gives the Lakers the depth and the talent to, let’s hope, face the conference of the West Uber-Touch.
Smart was the sixth overall choice of the 2014 draft by the Celtics.
He was a starter and reserved during his career, after starting 387 games out of 635 during an 11 -year career.
Meanwhile, Smart collected an average of 10.6 points, 4.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds, a sign of its versatile talents. He pulled 38.8% in the field, 32.4% on a three -point range and 77.6% of the free throw line in his career.
But Smart is his best on defense. His career defensive rating is 107.9.
He has the ability to move his feet and stay in front of his man. He is a very good individual defender, and that is exactly what Lakers need.
