Marcus Smart's addition gives the Lakers a sharper perimeter defender around Luka Dončić and LeBron James, elevating the team's defensive floor while raising the bar for Austin Reaves' development. Reaves posted a breakout 2024-25 season, but questions about his defense persist as extension talks loom. If he shores up on-ball and team defense, Los Angeles can push past the 50-win mark and keep its championship window open; otherwise, the clock could pressure the front office to rethink roster plans by 2026.

Dončić remains the benchmark for the Lakers' defense around the arc, and Smart's presence is meant to blunt that impact. Reaves' defensive metrics, including a 117 defensive rating and a -0.5 DBPM, tempered his impressive stat line (20.2 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.5 RPG in 73 games). In the postseason, those numbers worsened, underscoring the premium on two-way development. The article flags that a Dončić-led group demands elite defensive personnel at every position; for Reaves, improvement is the hinge that could unlock or constrain LA's 2025-26 ceiling.