The Los Angeles Lakers‘ offseason additions have transformed the roster, making them a significantly more formidable team in the Western Conference. The current outlook suggests that the starting lineup will be largely unchanged, as Deandre Ayton replaces Jaxson Hayes.
However, an NBA scout recently recommended that the Lakers also start Marcus Smart over Rui Hachimura while speaking with Lakers Daily. They said:
“JJ should start Marcus over Rui. They need a point-of-attack defender in the starting lineup, and they won’t have one if they start Luka, Austin, Rui, LeBron, and Ayton. I would start Marcus over Rui.”
“Rui would absolutely feast on offense playing against bench players, and Marcus can guard guys like Ant (Anthony Edwards), Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Steph (Stephen Curry), so Luka, Austin, and LeBron don’t have to and can focus on offense.”
The scout touched upon a key factor while making the suggestion. One of the Lakers’ priorities while signing a free agent in the offseason was the need for a point-of-attack defender. When considering Smart’s skill set, he certainly fits the bill.
With the current roster, the Lakers could potentially feature three variations of their starting lineup. Introducing Marcus Smart into the starting rotation would effectively present a three-guard rotation, featuring Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Marcus Smart, anchoring the backcourt.
This lineup has a lot of merit defensively. With Smart’s hustle, leadership, and basketball IQ, having him lead the defensive sets as the primary on-ball defender could be extremely beneficial.
Smart’s approach to defense blends timing with pressure, forcing errors and costly turnovers. When facing some of the premier guards in the league, this could be effective in gaining an edge, especially once fatigue sets in later in the game. Given Smart’s focus on conditioning this offseason, this could be a common trend next year.
Aside from being a defensive anchor, Smart has also shown the potential to be a capable perimeter threat for the Lakers. Last season, the former DPOY recorded an average of 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 39.3% from the field and 34.8% from beyond the arc.
Moving Smart to the starting rotation also has merit for the Lakers’ overall bench strength. With Hachimura coming off the bench, effectively acting as a substitute for LeBron James, the Lakers will have a steady scoring presence even in James’ absence.
Last season, Hachimura showcased a lot of versatility as an offensive player. While being a reliable three-point shooter, the 27-year-old forward also displayed a fundamentally sound midrange and low-post game.
He posted an average of 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, on shooting splits of 50.9% from the field and 41.3% from three-point range for the 2024-25 season. In a situation where he would suddenly have a more relevant scoring role off the bench, Hachimura could see an uptick in these figures, especially against second-unit defenses.
The decision to start Smart ahead of Hachimura isn’t devoid of shortcomings. By sacrificing size for defensive integrity in the backcourt, the Lakers may witness a drop-off in their overall rebounding potential.
The lack of a solid big man was felt the most in the postseason, when the Purple and Gold were often outrebounded in games. While the addition of Deandre Ayton could address these problems right away, losing a key rebounding figure may limit their production on the glass.
This may be a risk worth taking, however. When weighing the gains and losses, the Lakers may stand to benefit a lot more by increasing their defensive potential instead.
If balance is to be prioritized, the potential for Smart to replace Austin Reaves was also taken into consideration when creating the Purple and Gold’s potential starting lineups. While intriguing, it seems like the Lakers may only opt for this in specific situations.
