The Los Angeles Lakers were pretty busy during the offseason, acquiring a few talents who could bring them huge help in the new season.
One of them was Marcus Smart, who just spent the last 15 games with the Washington Wizards.
Speaking on his podcast, Patrick Beverley said that Smart could have a “stunning year” and might be an unexpected hero for the Lakers.
“The sleeper of this whole pickup was Marcus Smart. Marcus Smart has something to prove. It’s different, right? You talk about Marcus Smart dealing with injury. Yeah, he got Defensive Player of the Year. Is he the same player? Is he gonna defend it like that? People don’t understand, after the trade deadline, this month and a half, Marcus Smart was playing some really good basketball with the [Washington] Wizards. People don’t understand that. And…he has motivation to get a new contract. He has motivation to get back to the Marcus Smart that people know he is. So, I think he’s gonna have a stunning year,” Beverley said.
Smart is one of the few guards in NBA history to win Defensive Player of the Year.
He earned that prize back in 2021-22 when he was playing for the Boston Celtics, but Smart can still be a defensive powerhouse.
The Lakers hope so, but they also need him to contribute on the other end of the court.
Last season, he produced 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists during his time with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Wizards.
He wasn’t at 100 percent, but reports have said that he is healthy and tuned in now.
That means the Lakers could be getting the best version of Smart.
They were able to get him on a good deal, and they are envisioning him as a part of the second unit.
The Lakers may have just secured the steal of the summer, according to Beverley.
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