Smart type players impact are not visible in the box score. It's like Caruso or White. They just constantly make winning plays that don't show in the stat sheet.
Doesn't change the fact that his offensive shooting stats were abysmal. Making winning plays, sure. But also probably wouldn't need too many of these winning plays if he was more efficient from the field as well, no? If Marcus Smart from games 1-3 at Houston showed up, those OKC games look a lot closer. Just tough to win when your starting guard turns the ball as much as he has assists and shoots 30% from the field. At his age and some injury concerns still lingering as well as the Lakers not having infinite $ to blow, $8-10 million is a generous offer. Like, what are you comfortable paying Smart? He's not going to get any better so it's not like the money you're paying him is going towards a player who can develop and improve. There's a cost to that as well.
i'd pay smart 8-10 per, but i'd really try very very hard to get him to opt in and trust me that i'll pay him more next year. and i would make good on that promise once we're operating clearly over the cap.
I see you're more of a stats guy, based on this and the Herb conversation. I think we see basketball differently. You probably like Drummond or Cam Thomas and I don't He guarded full court the MVP through the whole series. And he had a very meh series. It was also due to JJ's defensive approach but that only worked because you had someone like Smart. That's worth like 5 threes. He handled the ball more than he will ever again because Luka was out, it's not an issue. I'm pretty sure he will 15million offers and I won't hate if we need to go there. But I really hope we can get him cheaper and believe we will get him in that range or even lower on a wink-wink deal
Smart played some of the best defense on SGA I’ve seen. I’m super comfortable putting him on anyone from SGA to Durant. I’d like to split the MLE between him and Thybulle. Smart - 10m x 3 years (PO year 2 and TO year 3) Thybulle - 5.1m x 2 years
Reports of his decline and injury proneness, allegedly, turned out to be not close to accurate. That was Caruso level pressure and technique and heart. How great to have that back.
