[Charania] BREAKING: 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.

Smart, a three-time All-Defense first team guard, will have a player option on his new Lakers deal to enter a more flush 2026 free agency, sources said. Point of attack defender was a position of need for L.A. as well — with Luka Doncic recruiting and reaching out to Smart.

The Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks all seriously pursued Smart, with positive conversations with personnel from all three teams after he and his agent Jason Glushon received permission to explore options from the Wizards, sources said.

Sources:

  1. https://www.espn.com/contributor/shams-charania/55244d2a07eeb

  2. https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3ludv3ymnbf2o

  3. https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3ludv3ypn5f2q

ESPN Story: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45775886/sources-marcus-smart-plans-join-lakers-wizards-buyout

35 comments

  9. Meh. A change of scenery will help but he’s been straight up bad for the last couple years while being injury prone

    Not expecting much but another primarily Celtic player (Rondo) joining the Lakers is very funny to me

  12. Rare Lakers move that didn’t make me go “huh?” immediately after. Really like this for them.

  13. Celtics fans gonna be sick seeing him in that jersey.

    And honestly even I have to agree that it feels wrong.

  16. This is like seeing Rondo in a Lakers jersey teaming up with Lebron all over again 🤢

  23. Smart needs to hit a game winner on Boston and win a chip to complete the Rondo arc.

  34. Gonna suck seeing him in the jersey but it’s not like hes going straight to the enemy… he did his time in the mines of shitty teams.

    Happy for him tbh better than seeing him waste away in Washington

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