Chicago Bulls: Pros and cons of signing Marcus Smart

Pros

Smart is one of those guys you absolutely hate — unless he’s on your team. For starters, he can absolutely distribute the ball. Don’t get me wrong, Schultz pointed out the obvious and it is worth noting. Smart is coming off a season where he put up a career-high in assists with nearly five per game.

What makes him a more polarizing player, though, is the fact that he has one of the highest motors in the game. When he’s on the floor, you’re getting every ounce of grit and attitude he can give you. Sometimes, it gets him into trouble. But, most of the time, the effort wins. His shooting statistics won’t blow you away, but it’s everything else that makes him a very good player in this league.

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Smart is an elite defender and has proven it since entering the NBA. He has made it known that he will make an impact defensively, even if that’s all he does. Fortunately, it’s not all he can do, but it’s the most impressive aspect of his game. Smart is unafraid to take on the best perimeter player on the court at any given moment, regardless of any potential mismatch in size.

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The Bulls could use a gritty defender like Smart. With the Bulls (ideally) acquiring more and more scoring talent in the near future, Smart would be perfect to throw into the mix. Chicago already has guys who can score, like Lauri Markkanen and potentially Zach LaVine. Being able to distribute and play exceptional defense is something Smart can do, and it’s something the Bulls would benefit from.