Marcus Smart’s Lakers Gamble: Can the Former Celtic Prove He’s Still Elite?

Well, well, well. Look who’s back in the spotlight—Marcus Smart, the former Boston Celtic who’s been bouncing around the league like a pinball since 2023. And now? He’s landed with the Los Angeles Lakers, where expectations are higher than LeBron’s hairline and the pressure is thicker than LA smog.

Patrick Beverley, never one to mince words (shocking, I know), recently dropped some truth bombs about Smart on his podcast. According to Pat Bev, Smart “has something to prove,” which is basically the diplomatic way of saying the guy’s been underwhelming since leaving Beantown. Ouch.

Why Smart Needs This Lakers Stint More Than a Kardashian Needs Instagram

Let’s be brutally honest here—Smart hasn’t exactly set the world on fire since his Celtic days ended. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award feels like ancient history now, doesn’t it? After getting shipped off to Memphis and then Washington, Smart’s reputation has taken more hits than a punching bag at a boxing gym.

But here’s where it gets interesting (and slightly desperate). The Lakers, in their infinite wisdom, decided to roll the dice on Smart after what can only be described as a chaotic offseason. They lost out on Dorian Finney-Smith because Rob Pelinka apparently thought he was negotiating for a used car instead of an NBA player. Classic Lakers front office move, right?

The silver lining? Smart actually showed flashes of his old self with the Wizards after the trade deadline. As Beverley pointed out, “Marcus Marcus was playing some really good basketball with the Wizards.” And let’s face it, when you’re looking good on a Wizards team, you’re either really trying or the competition isn’t exactly fierce.

The Lakers’ Defensive Dilemma: Smart Isn’t the Savior

Here’s where reality crashes into Lakers fans’ dreams like a meteorite. Despite adding Marcus, Jake LaRavia, and Deandre Ayton, this Lakers squad still has more defensive holes than Swiss cheese.

Lakers insider Jovan Buha didn’t sugarcoat it when he appeared on SiriusXM Radio. Sure, the offense looks promising with Luka Dončić (yes, apparently he’s a Laker now in this alternate universe), Austin Reaves, LeBron, and company. They could realistically field six or seven guys capable of dropping 15+ points on any given night.

But Defense? That’s Another Story Entirely

“When you look at Marcus, Gabe, and Jarred Vanderbilt as your three best perimeter defenders, it’s solid,” Buha admitted. “But when you look at what OKC has, when you look at what Minnesota has, when you look at what Houston has, I don’t really think it’s in the same class.”

Translation: The Lakers are bringing a water pistol to a bazooka fight.

Marcus’s Motivation: Contract Year Desperation

Let’s talk about what’s really driving Marcus right now—money. The man needs a new contract, and nothing motivates an NBA player quite like the prospect of securing that next payday. It’s like giving a starving person a menu; they’re going to work extra hard to earn that meal.

Beverley nailed it when he said Marcus has “motivation to get a new contract, to get back to the Marcus Smart he knows he is.” This isn’t just about basketball pride (though that’s certainly part of it). This is about Marcus proving he’s worth more than veteran minimum contracts and one-year prove-it deals.

The Harsh Reality Check

While Beverley predicts Smart will have a “stunning year,” let’s pump the brakes on that optimism train. The Lakers’ defensive issues run deeper than one aging former Defensive Player of the Year can fix. They’re competing in a Western Conference where teams like Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Houston have built defensive juggernauts.

Marcus, Vincent, and Vanderbilt as your top perimeter defenders? That’s like showing up to a Formula 1 race in a Honda Civic. Sure, it’s reliable, but you’re not winning any championships.

The Bottom Line: A Make-or-Break Season

Smart’s Lakers tenure isn’t just about basketball—it’s about career survival. At 31 years old, this might be his last shot at proving he belongs in the upper echelon of NBA defenders. The Lakers, desperate for any defensive help they can get, are betting that Marcus’s pride and contract motivation will resurrect the player who once terrorized opposing guards in Boston.

Will it work? History suggests that players seeking to prove themselves often find that extra gear when their backs are against the wall. Marcus has the basketball IQ and defensive instincts to make a difference, but the question remains whether his body can still cash the checks his reputation writes.

The Lakers’ championship hopes might not rest entirely on Smart’s shoulders, but his performance will certainly be a bellwether for how far this team can realistically go. If he can’t recapture even 80% of his Celtic form, the Lakers’ defensive weaknesses will be exposed faster than a celebrity scandal in TMZ.

One thing’s for sure—Smart better deliver, because in Lakers land, there’s no hiding from the spotlight, and second chances are rarer than parking spots at Staples Center.