NBA scout urges JJ Redick to start Marcus Smart over Rui Hachimura

The Los Angeles Lakers are widely expected to start Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Deandre Ayton next season, but one NBA scout believes head coach JJ Redick should start newcomer Marcus Smart over Hachimura.

The NBA scout told Lakers Daily that a starting lineup of Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, James and Ayton “doesn’t have enough defense” to compete in the rugged Western Conference.

“JJ should start Marcus over Rui,” the NBA scout said. “They need a point-of-attack defender in the starting lineup and they won’t have one if they start Luka, Austin, Rui, LeBron and Ayton. I would start Marcus over Rui.

“Rui would absolutely feast on offense playing against bench players, and Marcus can guard guys like Ant (Anthony Edwards), Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Steph (Stephen Curry) so Luka, Austin and LeBron don’t have to and can focus on offense.”

Smart won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year award with the Boston Celtics. He has made three All-Defensive teams, all with the Celtics, and is undoubtedly the Lakers’ best perimeter defender following the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, who signed with the Houston Rockets on the first day of free agency.

The NBA scout told Lakers Daily that Los Angeles has enough firepower on offense with Doncic, Reaves, James and Ayton. Defense was an issue for the Lakers in their postseason loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, as Redick’s group had trouble stopping Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels.

Smart played for the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards last season. He signed with the Lakers after getting bought out by the Wizards. Doncic recruited Smart to Los Angeles, and Smart admitted during his introductory press conference with the Lakers that he signed with the purple and gold because of Doncic and James.

“The main one, being able to play with Luka and LeBron, two of the best to do it in this game, two greats with (the) greatest basketball IQ that I’ve ever seen in this era,” Smart said.

“And, when you get a guy like Luka calling, referencing, checking on you, trying to see where you at to see and that if you want to come and join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here. And for him to say that, to see he can really use my help, that meant a lot.”

Smart averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks last season in 34 games with the Grizzlies and Wizards. The 31-year-old is expected to be the Lakers’ leader on defense next season and lock up star perimeter players.

Only time will tell if Redick starts Smart or Hachimura alongside Doncic, Reaves, James and Ayton. Redick will likely experiment with different starting lineups in training camp and preseason.