Could we start Smart at SF

[tarheelsxxiii]

I know I'm trying to think of a way to keep Bradley, but the fact is someone has to go, Turner doesn't solve this logjam either, Bradley or Smart has to go.

I love Bradley on the team, but something has to give. The only assets of value are Bradly, Smart, and IT. Our rookies and young wouldn't have much valuable return, most likely future picks of some sort. Bradley is the prime target, he can prove of use to playoff teams, and can get some big of value in return. I REALLY do not want to trade Smart or IT.

Agreed. And at some point you're going to exceed # of posts with # of TPs.

[YeezusChrist]

No I would never start him at sf but if we're playing small ball against a very fast lineup and their sf doesn't have much of a low post game then yes

IT
Bradley
Smart
Crowder
Sully

[Endless Paradise]

https://youtu.be/Yla2KxG5r5w


 Call it what you want. Smart cam cover almost anyone 6'8" and under. Here he does a great job on Wiggins, A top 10 athlete in the NBA. Who is also 6'8"

Showing me a video of him guarding Wiggins in college doesn't convince me that he'd be a credible starter at small forward in the NBA. Not in the slightest.

Tony Allen doesn't even start at small forward and he's shown he can lock up the previous MVP in the playoffs. There's no way Smart can start at the 3. If your only reasoning for trying to play him horribly out of position is "I don't wanna give up one of the team's unspectacular rotation guards," that's silly.

[Evantime34]

Could we start him at SF? Sure. Would it be a good idea? No. Could he play 5-10 minutes a game there in small lineups? Absolutely

[Endless Paradise]

Could we start him at SF? Sure. Would it be a good idea? No. Could he play 5-10 minutes a game there in small lineups? Absolutely

This. Of course he could play small forward in small lineups (Draymond Green played 5 in the Finals, after all), but if I'm expected to believe that Marcus Smart starting at the small forward position over the course of an 82-game regular season is supposed to be anything other than "unmitigated disaster," then lol.

Also, correction: Tony Allen does start at small forward for the Grizzlies when they aren't starting Jeff Green. If Smart can prove to be on the level of Allen as one of the league's elite defender, then sure, you might have a case. Until then, however, I'm just going to say that Allen is the exception to the rule and Smart isn't a NBA-quality starting small forward. I would also note that much of the reason Memphis traded for Green is because they realized they need a true small forward to compete in the Western Conference. Tony Allen regaining his starting role over Green is more of a conviction of Green than it is an acceptance that Allen as the starting 3 for Memphis is ideal.

[vjcsmoke]

We do need to trade at least 1 guard, maybe 2.  Our guards with the most trade value are IT, Bradley, and Smart.  One of them will probably be shopped/moved if we can get the right deal.  Maybe we are setting up for a big Cousins trade/godfather offer.  Maybe the Kings GM isn't as stupid as MJ.  We could always hope!  There's nobody untradeable on this roster at this point.

[byennie]

Being able to guard multiple positions is a luxury. But when you start abusing it, what's the point? You could just be starting a lesser player at a more appropriate role and getting the same result.

Smart is a guard, and it's very handy that he can switch on to players at 3, maybe 4 positions on any given play without giving up a lot. But asking him to guard SFs right from the tip is a bad idea.

[TheTruthFot18]

Sounds like the line up that doesn't really work in NO with Holiday, Gordon, and Evans.
Would be fun to watch though.

Something has to give at the guard spots though. Even if Smart plays 2 guard with AB and IT4 and Rozier play point, that limits all of Young or Hunter's minutes to small forward which should already be full with Turner and a potentially resigned Crowder.

[pearljammer10]

I wouldn't start him at the SF but I like the short stretches of IT, Bradley and Smart on the floor at the same time.

[Big333223]

I'm hopeful that we can play Rozier and Smart together as two combo guards who can share playmaking in Stevens' offense. For me, that leaves Thomas in the same role he had last year and means Bradley becomes expendable. I like Bradley's work ethic but he's can't create offense (for himself or others) and he's too small to guard anyone with real size, despite how skilled he is on that end. If there's an interested team, I wouldn't cry over his leaving.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I'm hopeful that we can play Rozier and Smart together as two combo guards who can share playmaking in Stevens' offense. For me, that leaves Thomas in the same role he had last year and means Bradley becomes expendable. I like Bradley's work ethic but he's can't create offense (for himself or others) and he's too small to guard anyone with real size, despite how skilled he is on that end. If there's an interested team, I wouldn't cry over his leaving.

I think the opposite. I think we'll see a return of Thomas paired up with one of Bradley or Smart in the starting line-up, with the knowledge that you have another ballhandler/defender who can step in from the bench.

I like Thomas in his current role, but I think the team might be prepared to give him a starting role.

[loco_91]

It probably won't happen, but I actually don't think it's crazy. In college he frequently matched up with forwards-- even power forwards-- and held his own. He has the toughness, strength and length to guard many of these guys (though not someone like Melo or KD, who will just shoot over him). And on offense it would mean that he actually has a quickness advantage, so maybe he could be more effective on that end.

[Big333223]

I think the opposite. I think we'll see a return of Thomas paired up with one of Bradley or Smart in the starting line-up, with the knowledge that you have another ballhandler/defender who can step in from the bench.

I like Thomas in his current role, but I think the team might be prepared to give him a starting role.

I think you can get away with Thomas and Smart, but Thomas and Bradley are both undersized for their positions so suddenly your giving up a lot of rebounding opportunities or asking Bradley to guard guys who are, potentially, a lot bigger. With Rozier's lenght, if he has the talent he could potentially be more versatile than Bradley on defense and more reliable on offense.

[byennie]

Find a mobile, defensive center who can switch on pick & rolls and you have something special with Smart. Noel has gotten a lot of buzz lately. I highly doubt we're getting him, especially without moving Smart, but he's a good example. You run the P&R against Smart and Noel, get the switch, then what? Not such a mismatch.

[wiley]

I answered this question definitively in another thread started by the same OP. 
Just add Marc Gasol and voila, yes you can...

Actually I agree with others.  You can but it would be better to start him at SG.