Marcus Smart Sidelined by Illness, Reflecting Injury-Plagued First Season with Lakers

Marcus Smart has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Bucks due to an illness. His first season with the Los Angeles Lakers was significantly impacted by ankle and finger injuries, limiting him to just 20 games. When healthy, Smart averaged 14.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.1 steals, and 2.1 three-pointers on 43.0% shooting, with an uptick in offensive production when Ja Morant was sidelined. Traded from Boston in 2023-24, Smart was expected to lead the backcourt during Ja Morant's suspension, recording a career-high 6.3 assists, 11.5 points, and 1.5 steals. Throughout his career, including his DPOY season in 2021-22 with Boston, Smart has been known for his elite defense, averaging 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks over three seasons, often guarding multiple positions. Despite being an inefficient, low-volume scorer, his defensive prowess and moderate assist/three-point upside make him a viable fantasy asset.