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Marcus Smart reportedly intends to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers following his contract buyout with the Washington Wizards. Smart's expected decision surprised many fans, but the move did not come out of nowhere. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Luka Doncic played a role in recruiting Smart to LA.
“Lakers star Luka Dončić made a direct recruiting pitch to Marcus Smart this week that resonated with the veteran guard, league sources tell @TheSteinLine, after Smart's agent Jason Glushon was granted permission by the Wizards to explore potential post-buyout landing spots,” Stein wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Stein reports that Doncic's pitch “resonated” with Smart. Now, barring unforeseen circumstances, he will likely sign a two-year, $11 million contract with the Lakers, as Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Los Angeles is in an interesting position at the moment. The Lakers are beginning to make the transition from one franchise star to another as LeBron James nears the end of his career. An extension has yet to come to fruition, but the Lakers are surely going to do everything they can to keep Doncic in LA.
Adding a veteran guard such as Smart should prove to be quite impactful for the Lakers. Smart, known for his impressive defense, could become a veteran leader for a team with championship aspirations.
The 31-year-old spent the 2024-25 season with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Wizards. He ultimately averaged 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals per outing. The former Defensive Player of the Year will give LA's all-around defense a pivotal boost. He is more than capable of contributing from an offensive standpoint as well.
The Lakers have had a fairly quiet offseason for the most part, but the Smart addition could lead to more moves as LA attempts to build a true contender around Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
