The Boston Celtics saw Marcus Smart starting to decline before trading him to the Grizzlies in 2023. The fan favorite was not happy about the move, but the franchise has been proven right. Smart has played just 54 total games in the last two seasons, and his production declined sharply. He has a new opportunity with the rival Lakers, but this won’t end well.
Smart averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes per game last season, split between Memphis and Washington. The Grizzlies dumped him before the deadline to save money. Memphis made the playoffs, but clearly didn’t view Smart as a crucial piece. They gave up two first-round draft picks to acquire him, so there was plenty of disappointment in having to part with a third to dump his contract.
Smart is no longer the defensive stopper Celtics fans remember. His shaky jumper and injury history have Lakers fans questioning what to expect. Luka Doncic helped recruit him to LA. Smart will provide leadership and energy, but that may be all the purple and gold can expect.
Marcus Smart is declining, and things will only get worse
The 31-year-old should still be in his prime, but the injuries and miles have caught up to him. He can’t guard the lead ball-handler for 35 minutes every night. The Lakers do not need his ball-handling with Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves on their roster. Smart struggles as a spot-up option, so there are fit questions. Those added with his decline could create a disaster scenario.
The 6’3 guard should play 25 minutes every night and be used to round out the defense in lineups where the Lakers are lacking. His energy and effort will be impactful, even if he struggles to stay in front of the quicker guards at this stage.
Smart is in his 30s, so expecting a bounce-back season is difficult. It could happen, but nobody knows better than the Celtics about his wars. The decline will continue this season. Smart would need to become a knockdown shooter or regain his foot speed to change the trajectory. That seems unlikely for a 31-year-old guard entering his 12th NBA season.
Smart will get plenty of open looks and every chance to prove he can be an impactful point of attack defender. Teams will sell out to stop the Lakers' stars, which should leave Smart free. They need him to slow down players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kyrie Irving, while being impactful on both ends. This is asking too much, and another injury will only make things worse for Smart.
The Boston Celtics sold at the perfect time. They got two first-round draft picks for the 6’3 guard just one year after he won Defensive Player of the Year. Marcus Smart’s decline had already started and has only gotten worse. The Lakers will be caught holding the bag in a make-or-break year. Sadly, Celtics fans know how this one will go. They must remember the good times and hope the former fan favorite can prove everyone wrong. It never hurts to dream.