03-23-2021, 07:03 AM
I am probably the biggest Marcus Smart fan on this board. When he is healthy he is the best defensive guard in the league and a solid ballhandler + streaky shooter on offense. Right now he isn´t close to his best level. I think the situation is comparable to KPs. Celtics struggled and hoped that he would fix some of the problems. They rushed his comeback but it did not work out and Smart looked like a shadow of his former self.
I would love to have Smart on the team but I don´t think the Mavs should pay a premium price for him. I also don´t want the Mavs to be the team that pays him in free agency (summer 2022). Just don´t think that he can stay healthy. It´s not about lingering injuries or one big weakness (knee, back, ankle...). More about the way he plays. All out effort in every single game. Diving on the floor, taking charges, playing really physical. It´s catching up with his body and he is missing games because of it. That´s not going to change in his late 20s. Will probably get even worse.
Small bonus: Really good breakdown of Smart´s defense.
I would love to have Smart on the team but I don´t think the Mavs should pay a premium price for him. I also don´t want the Mavs to be the team that pays him in free agency (summer 2022). Just don´t think that he can stay healthy. It´s not about lingering injuries or one big weakness (knee, back, ankle...). More about the way he plays. All out effort in every single game. Diving on the floor, taking charges, playing really physical. It´s catching up with his body and he is missing games because of it. That´s not going to change in his late 20s. Will probably get even worse.
Small bonus: Really good breakdown of Smart´s defense.