Marcus Smart Reveals Inside Details From Lakers’ Meeting Following NBA Cup Loss – “It Exposed Us a Lot”

The LA Lakers endured a 132-119 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, ending their NBA Cup campaign. According to guard Marcus Smart, the loss highlighted many of the team’s underlying problems.

During the matchup, Smart scored a season-high 26 points, hitting eight three-pointers, while Luka Doncic put up 35 points and LeBron James posted a near triple-double with 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, but the Lakers’ defensive shortcomings were obvious.

The Spurs shot 50% overall and 44.7% from deep, with guards Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper combining for 63 points. Smart said the Lakers met after the loss and emphasized that the team needs to focus on defense.

“Nobody likes to go watch film after you get your a** kicked,” he said on Saturday. “It's tough, ‘cause the film never lies. And it exposed us a lot, which we already knew. We were just winning a lot of games, so it was mitigated that way.

“We have to be able to guard. The scouting report against us is that we're not guarding people. And if we wanna be great in this league and do what we're trying to do, you have to be able to guard. uh Especially in the West, these guys are no joke when they're coming.”

Defensive struggles have plagued the Lakers all season; they rank just 21st in defensive rating and allow 116.8 points per game, among the highest in the league.

Lakers linked to defensive wing

The Lakers are expected to explore the trade market to bolster their defense. One player they’ve been connected to is Pelicans wing Herb Jones, one of the league’s most coveted defensive talents.

While Jones would immediately strengthen Los Angeles’ defense, there’s a catch, according to The Athletic’s Dan Woike.

“While Lakers fans can fantasize about some all-out liquidation of the three-win Pelicans’ roster, team and league sources tell The Athletic that New Orleans is not interested in moving Jones,” Woike reported.

“And considering what LA would have to offer in a deal, expiring contracts and a single first-round pick, the Pelicans almost certainly wouldn’t engage at that price point.”

Potential Lakers trade pieces could include Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht, while the only future first-round pick available to offer in a trade would be their 2031 or 2032 selection.