The Los Angeles Lakers are adding a former NBA Defensive Player to shore up their perimeter defense and add another playmaker to a roster that is now better than the one that lost in the first round last season.
According to ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania, veteran guard Marcus Smart is headed to the Lakers in another coup for Rob Pelinka and his front office.
“Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. A return to a grand stage for the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year,” Charania reported on X.
The Lakers’ roster is currently full. But they are expected to create a roster spot and the necessary salary to sign Smart by waiving Shake Milton, who has $3.3 million non-guaranteed contract.
“Lakers can sign Marcus Smart to two years, $11 million deal with the full bi-annual exception,” NBA salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan wrote on X. “They’ll need to clear about $4.2 million to gain access to the full amount while staying below the first apron. Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin are on non-guaranteed contracts.”
Smart is the second player the Lakers have snagged in the buyout market after former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton.
Marcus Smart’s Injury History Raises Red Flags Flag
While Smart has the reputation of being an elite defensive playmaker, he has been a shell of himself since he left the Boston Celtics in 2023 as part of the three-team trade for Kristaps Porzingis.
The 31-year-old guard has struggled to stay on the court due to injuries, playing only 20 games in his first season with the Memphis Grizzlies. They cut the bait when they salary-dumped him to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline.
Smart would only see action for 15 games, averaging 9.3 points, 22.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 18.7 minutes off the bench.
If he manages to stay healthy, he is expected to play a key role for the Lakers as their Sixth Man and leader of the second unit.
Lakers Eye Giannis, Jokic in 2027
The Smart signing is the latest short deal the Lakers have handed out this offseason in preparation for the 2027 summer, where they could find the next superstar to pair with Luka Doncic post-LeBron.
According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the Lakers have their eyes on three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo once LeBron James is off their books. That is why a James trade is unlikely to happen unless the return is either of the two aforementioned former league MVPs.
“The whole thing has become pretty awkward, and yet the reality is they’re both better off with each other. There is no trade the Lakers would make that would give James a better chance at a title than he has playing with Dončić.
“There’s also no trade James would accept that would benefit the Lakers and fit their parameters as they look to pair Luka Dončić with either Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic,” Irwin wrote on July 16.
