Former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Saturday.
A three-time first-team all-defense selection, Smart will reportedly ink a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers after clearing waivers. The new contract will include a player option that could allow the guard to enter free agency in 2026.
According to ESPN, Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic contacted Smart and expressed his desire to play with the two-way player, who averaged a career-low 20 minutes per game last season, a campaign that was hampered by an injury to a finger on his right shooting hand.
Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies prior to the 2023-24 season and played in 19 games before he was again moved to the Wizards (15 games) in February. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.2 assists overall.
While injuries have limited Smart to a combined 54 games over the past two seasons, he has proven his value throughout his career. While with the Boston Celtics, Smart was part of postseason-qualifying teams in each of his first nine seasons in the NBA, including when he helped Boston reach the NBA Finals in 2022, the year in which Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Since joining the NBA as the No. 6 overall pick in 2014, Smart has averaged 10.6 points on 38.8 percent shooting, including a 32.4 percent clip from 3-point range. Of course, he is mostly known for his defense, as demonstrated by a career average of 1.6 steals per game. He is six steals away from having 1,000 for his career.
Per ESPN, the Lakers plan to waive guard Shake Milton to free up a roster spot for Smart.
–Field Level Media
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