Writer proposes Lakers trade for former Defensive Player of the Year

USA Today

19-07-2025

The Los Angeles Lakers need a little more help in order to become championship contenders, and they know it. They reportedly want to improve their backcourt defense, and they may have to make a trade in order to do so, as they lack flexibility under the first apron of the NBA's salary cap.
One report indicated that they have had some preliminary trade talks to inquire about the availability of Marcus Smart, a veteran guard who won the Defensive Player of the Year award for the 2021-22 season. Smart is 31 years of age and has been injury-prone, but he could be the type of suffocating defender L.A. needs, and he could also serve as a secondary ball-handler and facilitator.
Jedd Pagaduan of ClutchPoints proposed that the team send guard Gabe Vincent, big man Maxi Kleber and a 2032 second-round draft pick to the Washington Wizards for Smart.
Via ClutchPoints:
"What made Vincent valuable for the Lakers last season was that he showed up for the majority of the season, suiting up in 72 games and providing some much-needed backcourt versatility for the Purple and Gold," Pagaduan wrote. "Giving him up for Smart requires the Lakers to take a risk and have faith that the 2022 DPOY isn't damaged goods quite yet.
"That requires a lot of positive thinking, as the Grizzlies, the team that acquired Smart to be their de facto Dillon Brooks replacement, had to give up a first-rounder just so they could get his contract off the books. Smart hasn't been at his best physically over the past few seasons, picking up a knock here and there which added up to a ton of missed time
"... There is a chance that the 31-year-old won't be able to return to his DPOY form, although even then, he would represent an upgrade over Vincent. ... But at the very least, Smart showed that he can still play solid basketball for stretches. His shooting percentages improved towards the end of last season when he was with the Wizards, and in LA, he won't be tasked to do much of anything other than to defend, hit open shots, and ruffle opponents' feathers.
"The expectation for Smart should the Lakers trade for him would be for him to play at least 65 games, play 20 minutes a night, and act as a key piece of a Purple and Gold squad that aims to recapture the defensive heights they reached last year."
Los Angeles is in a situation where it may not be able to be picky about the player upgrades it pursues on the trade market, given its limited trade assets. Smart has appeared in just 54 games over the last two seasons, but as long as he's available for the entirety of the playoffs, he may be a good player for the team to go after.
This past season, he averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 20.0 minutes a game. He shot 34.8% from 3-point range, which was his highest figure in that department since the 2018-19 season.
After spending his first nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, Smart has plenty of playoff experience, which includes five trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and one appearance in the NBA Finals. That wouldn't exactly hurt a Lakers team that has gotten younger lately.