Last summer, the Los Angeles Lakers brought in center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart as free agents after both players had their previous contracts bought out. While Ayton has largely been seen as a disappointment, he had his moments of strong basketball, and he remains a skilled and capable starting-level 5 in the NBA — when he wants to.
Smart proved to be the Lakers’ X-factor, especially in their first-round playoff victory over the Houston Rockets. The former Defensive Player of the Year had a bounce-back campaign after looking to be injury-prone and in decline during the previous two seasons, and he gave Los Angeles some much-needed perimeter defense and resourcefulness.
Ayton and Smart have player options for next season, and according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, L.A. is more likely to retain Smart than Ayton for next season.
“I’m glad we have these two together in the same question because I think, at least in spirit, the answer is similar,” Woike wrote. “If we’re being completely objective, both Smart and Ayton out-performed their contracts last season in a number of different ways. Getting what turned out to be two starters via buyouts was a godsend for the team as they bridged from whatever they were before the [Luka] Dončić trade to whatever they’re going to be next. But, to be clear, it was a bridge.
“That’s not to say neither will be back (both have player options), but team sources have repeatedly talked about an upgrade at the center position. They’ve also spoken about a desire to get younger and more athletic. If I had to pick one to be back, I’d lean Smart. I just think the Lakers want a more traditional Dončić-style center.”
Smart averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, three assists and 1.4 steals a game during the regular season, and during the postseason, he recorded 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.4 steals and one block per game. As a grizzled 12-year veteran who is a defensive specialist and can also handle the ball and facilitate his team’s offense, he could be harder to replace than Ayton.
The Lakers have been linked to a number of centers who could or will be available either in free agency or on the trade market. It looks like securing some sort of upgrade at the 5 is at the top of their summer wish list. As for Smart, Woike and Sam Amick recently wrote that the team is interested in keeping him.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Woike: Lakers more likely to keep Marcus Smart than Deandre Ayton
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
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By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
