Smart was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 for the Celtics, who reached the NBA Finals that season and made nine consecutive playoff appearances during his tenure. He is a three-time member of the All-Defense first team, and he was a regular starter for Boston in his final half-decade with the team before he was traded to the Grizzlies in 2023.
Because of injuries, the 6-foot-3 Smart has played in just 54 games over the past two seasons since leaving Boston, and he averaged just 20 minutes per game last season when healthy. He played in only 15 games after joining the Wizards last February as part of a three-team trade involving Jake LaRavia, who signed with the Lakers in free agency this month.
Smart has never averaged more than 13.1 points per game while playing in more than half of his team’s games in a season, but the Lakers undoubtedly covet his defensive contributions to a roster already featuring strong scorers. Smart will have ample opportunity to play a significant role for the Lakers, who needed another strong point-of-attack defender after losing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets in free agency.
Smart, Ayton and LaRavia are the major offseason additions to the Lakers, who
lost in the first round to Minnesota
last spring after their seismic
midseason trade to acquire Doncic
from the Dallas Mavericks. Los Angeles has managed to keep its core intact apart from Finney-Smith, even resigning backup center Jaxson Hayes.
James picked up his $52.6 million player option to return for his record 23rd NBA season, but
agent Rich Paul has been vocal
about James’ desire for the Lakers to be a serious championship contender in the upcoming season.
___
AP NBA:
https://apnews.com/NBA
