Rob Pelinka and the Los Angeles Lakers had been very calm in adding the alignment of the offseason. Although they were surrounded by many rumors, the Lakers had added only two players.
While fans like movements to sign Deandre Ayton and Jake Laravia, these two movements alone were not going to make the team a competitor of the championship.
By surrounding Luka Doncic with the best possible pieces to be won now, it is an obvious priority. However, Los Angeles also wanted to keep their long -term financial flexibility in the process.
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On Saturday afternoon, the Lakers hit the free agency again. They agreed to sign the veterans goalkeeper Marcus Smart to an $ 11 million contract over two years after his acquisition of Washington Wizards.
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This report was first shared by ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania.
“Breaking: Marcus Smart has accepted a contract repurchase with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign an agreement of $ 11 million over two years with the Los Angeles Lakers after cleaning the exemptions, the Tell Espn sources”, wrote Charania on X. “A return to a big scene for the defensive player of the year 2022 of the NBA.”
Smart is a nice addition for a Los Angeles team who really needed a better defensive mentality. He is known as a defender of the elite perimeter throughout his NBA career.
Last season, the 31 -year -old goalkeeper played for Memphis’ wizards and grizzly workers. He did not play much because he has treated injury problems and simply a lack of role.
In the 34 games and seven departures in which he played, Smart has an average of nine points per match to accompany 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 interceptions in 20 minutes per match. It also pulled 39.3% compared to the ground and 34.8% of the line at three points.
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Admittedly, it is not the decision that will feed the Lakers at a championship. It is simply an excellent addition of depth that will help this goal.
Dononic and LeBron James will have to be the engine of Los Angeles. Ayton will also be invited to intensify his game with a notch.
Adding Smart to an agreement of an average value of $ 5.5 million per season is a flight. If he can remain healthy, there is no doubt that the veteran wing can help Lakers compete at a higher level.
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