LAKERS OFFSEASON NO LEBRON JAMES BIG BOARD: #12 MARCUS SMART
WRITTEN + EDITED BY JORDYN BONTRAGER
There are a lot of guys from the 2025-2026 Lakers who deserve a lot of credit for the things they did for the betterment of the team.
Rob Pelinka assembled the army. JJ Redick orchestrated them effectively. Luka Doncic played at an MVP level in his first full year in LA. Ageless wonderLeBron James missed accolade eligibility by five games, but for sure would have eclipsed either of Jalen Duren or Chet Holmgren for All-NBA 3rd team honors had he met the attendance bylaw. Austin Reaves officially leaped LBJ in the offensive pecking order, unlocking his perennial level up. Rui Hachimura was once again among the league leaders in 3FG% throughout the regular season and was once again an enhanced version of himself throughout the playoffs. Deandre Ayton looked lost from time to time, but more often times than not looked like he loved wearing the Laker purple and gold. The list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on.
But with all due respect to everyone else, will the real X-Factor please stand up?
If you were to filter said list by who deserves the largest cuts of credit, Marcus Smart would suddenly make his way up to or near the top. First and foremost, his strength as a leader is clear through any lens. On a team with so much top shelf talent surrounding him in the huddle, it seemed to be Smart’s overall influence in the locker room which stitched the whole operation together. His constant willingness to sacrifice his body for his boys sparked those boys to roll their sleeves up and bend their knees defensively. His constant warrant for winning has followed along with him wherever he’s been, and should continue stalking his shadow wherever the 32-year-old Smart goes.
After how prevalent his presence was amidst the absences of Reaves and Doncic in the postseason, this organization would be incredibly wise to renew their commitment to Smart even after he inevitably declines the measly $5.3 million player option he savagely overplayed. A guy like De’Anthony Melton offers a similar complimentary skillset, but he is just not quite on Smart’s same level of impact.
This is a guy who shines most from the shadows of a supporting cast, but he is never scared if asked to step up into a more featured role. Example: Round 1 vs the Rockets. In all actuality, that collection of contests might be the strongest sample of basketball that the NBA universe has ever seen out of Marcus Smart: 35.2 MPG | 14.7 PPG | 3.7 RPG | 5.5 APG vs 3.7 TOPG | 1.7 BPG | 2.7 SPG | 46.4% FG | 44.8% 3FG | 74.2% FT. The winning plays came from his way in abundance throughout the entire span of the series, a series in which his squad was in desperate need of the saving grace that he was.
At this time no public knowledge exists entailing Smart’s intentions this summer, but the public assumption would point towards the Lakers pursuing a path to bring him back. Something in the $10-15 million annual salary range would seem to meet his market. And if #36 were to replicate both the synergy he showcased with Reaves + Doncic AND the confidence he exhibited without them, that $10-15 million “pay raise” could turn out to be Smart’s second consecutive contract steal on Pelinka’s part.
