Lakers lost part of team's 'banshee' identity in roster move

The Lakers released Jordan Goodwin to make room for their new point guard, former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart. Last season, Goodwin played 29 games for the Lakers and averaged a steal per game, despite averaging only 18.7 minutes. But the Lakers chose Smart and his veteran pedigree over the ultra-aggressive Goodwin.

Dan Woike wrote about Redick's defensive philosophy in April, after the Lakers held the Minnesota Timberwolves to 85 points in a playoff win. Redick and his coaching staff encourage players to "be a banshee," a catch-all term he uses to describe playing with aggression, diving for loose balls and prioritizing team success over individual statistics. Specifically, the term refers to yelling, the main characteristic of the banshee from Irish folklore, particularly on defense.

Goodwin was the poster child for that approach after signing a two-way deal with the team in February. Redick singled out Goodwin and Dorian Finney-Smith after the win, telling reporters, "I think it's the importance of having Doe and Goodie and guys that are naturally like that."

Now, both of those banshees are off the roster, with Finney-Smith gone to the Houston Rockets in free agency.

Smart is an excellent defender who may indeed embody that banshee spirit. But he's also been injured, playing only 54 games the last two seasons. He may not be able to defend opposing guards like he once did, something the Lakers will need with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the backcourt. Smart's real strength is defending bigger players, but the Lakers still may lack someone to stop quick guards.

It could be that the Lakers think they can find and develop another banshee, since Goodwin came through the team's G League system originally. But while they've added a solid defensive player, they might have lost a player key to their desired defensive identity.