The Los Angeles Lakers enter the offseason with a lot of questions after a 4-1 series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Luka Doncic-LeBron James duo wasn't enough to get out of the first round, which means improvements will need to be made this offseason.
What do the Lakers do now? Do they bring in a center as they were trying to do previously? Do they trade Austin Reaves for another star to pair alongside Luka and LeBron?
There are a number of directions this team could decide to go in.
Stephen Noh of Sporting News named some possible trade fits with the Lakers, and one of them is Washington Wizards star Marcus Smart.
"Smart was considered a negative asset at the trade deadline. The Grizzlies had to attach their 2025 first-round pick and Jake LaRavia in order to dump his contract. His offense had declined to the point of being damaging in Memphis.
Smart turned his season around in Washington, rediscovering his 3-point accuracy and playing the same tough defense that he's been known for. As he said during one postgame interview, "I just wanted to continue to show everybody I still do this s—."
Smart would be a very low cost flier for the Lakers. He's on an expiring $21.6 million contract, so if it doesn't work out then they could move on from him quickly. Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, and some minor draft capital could bring him in."
Smart spent his entire NBA career with the Celtics before being shipped to the Grizzlies. With Memphis having questions of their own, moving on from Smart and his expiring deal for some assets could make sense for that franchise.
The best part about this deal for LA is Smart is a quality defender, something the Lakers lacked this year.
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