Los Angeles Lakers: The Smart Move

Dec 1, 2013; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Marcus Smart (33) drives to the basket Memphis Tigers guard Chris Crawford (3) during the second half at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Memphis Tigers defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 73-68. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s be honest about this season for the Los Angeles Lakers: It’s a wash. There has been zero evidence whatsoever that concludes that the Los Angeles Lakers are going to be even remotely competitive this year. There’s nothing you can say or do that would convince me that these Lakers are capable of making the playoffs or even having a winning season.

The Lakers are missing three point guards, a multitude of wing players and their brightest spot, and possibly best player, is Nick Young, who doesn’t even start. This season is just piling on disappointment after disappointment. The Lakers have found a little life in Kendall Marshall, who has shown  potential in his passing ability and a pretty good upside but is he really the point guard that is going to help put the Lakers back on the map and usher in a new era of winning? It is clear that the Lakers will need to begin the rebuilding process soon and there’s a certain someone in Oklahoma that I think holds the answer to many of the Lakers problems.

It all starts with Marcus Smart, ladies and gentlemen. He is what I like to call “the man” in this upcoming 2014 NBA draft. There is NO ONE I would rather see in a Laker jersey from this draft more than Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State. In the words of Stephen A. Smith, “He is a Bad Boy”.

Smart is a 6’4 point guard who literally does it all. He’s a natural born leader, a winner, a good shooter and when he’s rolling he can explode from behind the arc faster. He understands the intangible aspects of the game of basketball, he knows his teammates, he’s coachable and a he’s a tremendous athlete. Smart is the total package. At this point of his sophomore season he’s averaging 17.3 pts, 5.7 rebs and 4.4 ast per game. Here’s the best part: his 2.5 steals per game leads the Big 12. He’s a tenacious defender as evident by his early season game against Utah Valley in which he recorded an amazing 9 steals. He’s got what it takes to be a sensational NBA player right out of the gate.

If my high praise isn’t enough, I’ll let him tell it. In Las Vegas last summer Smart went up against NBA guards Kyrie Irving and Damian Lillard in the USA National Team mini camp and he was quoted saying….

"“I know if I can play with those guys, who are going up against the likes of LeBron and Kobe Bryant, then I can play with anybody in the college game.”"

That type of confidence and mindset are rare character traits for college players to exhibit. If I was Jim Buss or Mitch Kupchak my eyes would be fixed on Smart. Marcus Smart is the perfect player and point guard to bring in for the next few years and, under the tutelage of Kobe Bryant for his first two years, Marcus Smart has potential to be an outstanding NBA player right from the jump.

The Los Angeles Lakers front office has a lot of thinking to do and moves to make. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Marcus Smart is the savior for the Los Angeles Lakers; however, I stand by my statement when I say that he has the potential to be the next great point guard in the NBA and the best point guard the Lakers have had since Magic Johnson. If the Lakers plan on getting back to being Championship contender, bringing in a leader to help usher in the “Post Kobe Era” would be the “Smart” move.