Lakers Starter Predicted to Face Demotion After Marcus Smart Arrival

The Lakers are taking a gamble on oft-injured point guard Marcus Smart this season, hoping that he can be the defensive stopper he was for so long with Boston. On a team that has glaring defensive liabilities all over the top of the roster--Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton--Smart's ability to hinder offenses at the point of attack could be a key to the 2025-26 season. Smart played only 34 games last year between Washington and Memphis, as he dealt with finger injuries.