The Sacramento Kings are one of the few NBA teams with cap space for the free-agent frenzy. Boston Celtics’ guard Marcus Smart should be a player Vlade Divac should have on his radar.
The Sacramento Kings have yet to be linked to Marcus Smart, but is he too talented not to be considered? The Kings are rumored to be focused on Jabari Parker or Mario Hezonja to fulfill their need on the wing. Smart is considered a combo-guard and many will make the argument the Kings do not need another guard. But the key point is Smart can guard small forwards. He can guard positions 1-3 and sometimes the four.
Smart is a much better defender than Parker or Hezonja, and ultimately that is what the Kings need—a lockdown defender. The Kings organization should not dismiss Smart based on his traditional position. He is a premier defender and will provide the versatility the team desperately needs. Despite having four years of NBA experience, Smart is only 24-years old. He still has developmental upside.
Let us explore how the roster would operate with Smart onboard and delve into what he brings to the court.
More Than a Two-Guard
Smart could immediately slot in as the Kings’ starting shooting guard, which would solidify Bogdan Bogdanovic as the starting small forward. However, Smart’s best role would be as the Kings’ sixth man, similar to how he was used in Boston. He would be a perfect complement in the backcourt with Buddy Hield. With Smart off the bench, Bogdan can start at his more natural position at shooting guard. At the small-forward spot the Kings could add another piece, or maybe Justin Jackson will make strides this offseason and he can fulfill that role.
Signing Smart would also push Frank Mason III to third-string point guard, where he should be. Mason showed promise in his rookie year, but defensively he would be head-hunted in the playoffs and it would be hard to get him on the floor.
Although Smart is listed as a guard, it is unwise to put him in a box. He is one of the most versatile defenders in the league and his ability to guard positions 1-3, and do it well, will allow Dave Joerger to deploy unique lineups. Having a player capable of guarding the opposing team’s best players is one of the most valuable attributes in the NBA.
The only concern with Smart on the roster is his three-point shooting. According to Basketball Reference, he shot only 30.1% from three-point land last year. Combine his struggles with De’Aaron Fox’s perimeter-shooting woes and spacing could be a problem offensively with both of them on the floor. The best strategy would be to stagger their minutes. There is also hope Fox improves his shooting over the summer, and it is possible Smart improves his shot as well.
Defensive Versatility
In the Eastern Conference Finals, Smart guarded LeBron James better than anyone else did on his team. Smart is the best perimeter defender available in free-agency. On the Kings, he would guard the opposing team’s best wing player or lead guard.
He can match up against quicker guards like Chirs Paul, chase two-guards like Klay Thompson around screens, and check bigger wings like LeBron. Smart is 6’4″ and 220 pounds, so he is not the biggest, but he is very strong and he has a 6’9″ wingspan. There were multiple times in the playoffs he had to switch and guard opposing team’s power forwards and he held his own. His ability to guard multiple positions is extremely valuable for modern defenses who routinely switch on all screens.
It has been chronicled ad nauseam that the Kings’ biggest need is a small forward. The reasoning behind this is mostly defensive related. There is not an available player better at guarding small forwards than Smart. Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, who many consider being the best coach in the game, often closed games with Smart alongside one of his starting point guards—Kyrie Irving or Terry Rozier. Smart was tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best wing or lead guard.
Smart would bring a defensive skillset the Kings have been missing since Doug Christie retired–a lockdown defender.
Competitive Toughness
Marcus Smart does all of the little things. He makes the dirty plays, he dives on loose balls, takes charges, and he grinds on every possession as he has true grit. He has been a spark plug and emotional leader for the Boston Celtics for years.
Smart brings energy in his play and to his teammates which would ignite the Sacramento crowd if he came. There is a reason why Celtics fans do not want him to leave Boston.
“We all believe in everything he brings to the table. His competitive spirit is contagious, infectious. That’s hard to quantify and it’s hard for people to realize when you go down a list of statistics. This might be a great example of how do you measure that, right? Those certain intangibles you can’t even put into words — you have to see it, and you kind of have to feel it.” -Brad Stevens (Re: Marcus Smart)
Smart will do whatever is necessary for the team to get a win. The Kings do not have their 2019 first-round pick so it makes sense to try to win as many games as possible. Smart’s mentality and approach would push the youth to continually give their everything. He would be a tremendous culture addition.
His persona and defensive prowess will benefit the young guards on the team during practice. Think of it as an iron sharpens iron scenario.
Free-Agency Outlook
We are early into free agency and there has not been any news in relation to Smart. He is a restricted free agent and Boston has already offered a $6.1 million qualifying offer to him. Smart has expressed interest to remain in Boston, but he believes he deserves to be paid more than $14 million per year. It will be difficult for Boston to match a salary of that range. According to Spotrac, they are already in the negative for cap space, and that is before the two-year $11 million dollar deal Aron Baynes just signed is factored in.
Multiple teams (Sun, Mavericks) who had cap space at the beginning of the night have already used a large portion of their available room. The Kings are one of the few teams remaining with the available space to offer Smart a deal he is looking for that may lure him away from Boston.
If the Kings were to extend him an offer it would most likely be in the three-year $15 million per year range. Boston would then have the rights to match the offer, but it is uncertain if they would do so. The salary cap is tight this summer, but the cap is slated to grow in the next few years. A 25-year old quality starter at $15 million per year would be considered a bargain.
So, Kings fans. What are your thoughts about Marcus Smart being an option for your team this free agency? To give us your opinion, feel free to comment on our website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.