Former NBA player Gilbert Arenas has expressed his opinion on the LA Lakers who brought Marcus Smart to the team after purchasing a contract with the Washington Wizard.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Marcus Smart will be completing a contract purchase with Washington Wizard after a half-season with the team.
Although it hasn’t been officially made yet, Smart is expected to join the LA Lakers once it clears the exemption.
Charania also reported that Luka Doncic is one of the players who recruited Smart for the Lakers.
The NBA community responded with X, but former NBA player Gilbert Arena also shared his thoughts. It is clear that he is not convinced of this move.
The Lakers will need to make two cuts to the roster after signing Smart for a two-year, $11 million deal.
This was his third acquisition so far in the offseason and he didn’t mind the other two, but Arena was not a huge fan of the team adding.
When the deal was announced, he posted a video to X, where he shared his feelings with his followers.
He said:
“No one knew he was a ____ free agent. Do we have an open tryout?
“Who’s the next one? Get Kwame Brown You Bout Out now. Why isn’t LeBron James making a decision?
Smart is a former defensive player of the year, adding solidity to the roster lost after Dorian Finney Smith left for free agency.
He was part of the Boston Celtics core team, playing in nine consecutive playoffs and also making his way to the NBA Finals.
His ability to defend every position was to contribute to the points and play, making him an important player for the Celtics.
The team decided to move on, but things have not been the same for him ever since.
Smart went to the Memphis Grizzlies, but he avoided the injury without taking action. He then moved to Wizard in February this year.
| season | point | assist | I’ll steal |
| 2024-25 | 9.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 |
| 2023-24 | 14.5 | 4.3 | 2.1 |
| 2022-23 | 11.5 | 6.3 | 1.5 |
| 2021-22 | 12.1 | 5.9 | 1.7 |
| 2020-21 | 13.1 | 5.7 | 1.7 |
His reputation may not be the same as it was a few years ago, but Smart can still be a valuable player on the roster.
Don Chic, who recruits him, shows that he really wanted to play smart. This is a good sign for the Lakers.
With the Reaves and Doncic in the backcourt, the Lakers are a bit lighter there.
However, these issues will likely disappear once Smart is added to the roster. If he maintains fit and delivers to both ends of the floor, the Lakers will be a serious candidate to win the Western Conference