The Los Angeles Lakers signed Marcus Smart this offseason, adding another veteran presence to the roster. However, Smart hasn’t exactly been the most reliable player over the last couple of years. The Lakers didn’t have much cap space this offseason, which allowed them to land Smart, and GM Rob Pelinka was a strong supporter of the move.
“Adding a player like Marcus Smart to our roster allows us to compete at the highest level,” Pelinka said. “Marcus epitomizes what it means to prioritize winning above all else – whether that’s making huge plays on the defensive end or hitting critical shots in key moments of the most intense games. He knows and understands playoff winning and will be a key leadership voice in our group. Surrounding our stars with two-way players like Marcus is critical to our overall vision of how we want to play and win next season. This is an exciting player acquisition, for sure.”
However, Smart has been dealing with an injury to start training camp.
“It’s been a roller coaster. It definitely has. But it’s part of the game. The staff is doing a great job of controlling what we can control with the tendinopathy, making sure we’re doing all the things to load it,” Smart said.
On Tuesday, Smart got his first game action of the preseason — and alarm bells are already ringing. Known for his elite defense, Smart didn’t look like himself. The Lakers may have taken a gamble that could cost them.
“The Los Angeles Lakers may quickly regret signing Marcus Smart. It is a bit early for that, but it certainly looked like a problematic move after their preseason loss to the Suns. Smart must prove he can stay healthy and be an impactful perimeter defender to fit. Sadly, that may not be possible,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote.
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Smart is a proven veteran, but injuries may have already caught up to him. While it’s just a small sample size, it’s something the Lakers need to monitor closely.
The Lakers are counting on players like Smart to step up in big moments this season. Perhaps it was just some early rust, but it certainly wasn’t the debut they were hoping for.