While the offseason is over, it doesn't mean roster adjustments are. Marcus Smart could be headed up north to play for the 76ers.
Ball handling is becoming a lost art in the NBA. Better yet, having some prominent defense players is becoming a bit of a missing piece for most teams.
The Philadelphia 76ers have done a heck of a job in assembling a championship-like roster. But this team could build on this, couldn’t they? Well, if so, there could be a "smart" move in line for the front office.
While it was a cute use of wording, Marcus Smart could be a guy that the 76ers eye to bring aboard for a few reasons. The main reason is because he is a phenomenal perimeter defender, and that could be a huge asset for this team. After all, he is a former defensive rookie of the year. The 76ers have great guard play, but they lack in the defensive area.
Their best defenders as of this moment are Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe. This is no knock on the other starters, but it doesn’t hurt to add to that with someone like Smart. Probably the second biggest thing is his playoff experience. Smart has ten playoff appearances under his belt and has played a major role with the Boston Celtics as well as the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his playoff career, Smart has averaged 10.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.
Most would look at these numbers and feel his contributions would be very lackluster. Look at the big picture here; he hasn’t been in the league this long because he knows how to score; it’s all about his defense. Even with all that, Smart isn’t afraid to take the shot when the ball is in his hands.
Ironically enough, LeBron James knows just how good Smart is and what a benefit he could be for this team considering they were teammates during his time with the Lakers. Smart had some key defensive stops for the Lakers.
Smart could soon be up for grabs as the Houston Rockets have an abundance of guards at their disposal. Smart would be a low-risk, high-reward addition, and it could benefit their salary cap.
Situation if a trade was made.
There's already an eye on the 76ers because of who they have on the team. If they could add someone like Smart and not have to sacrifice a key piece of their team to acquire him, this could easily be an addition that puts this team over odds on favorite for a title.
