The Los Angeles Lakers made a big free agency move on Saturday afternoon. After a quiet period since the signings of Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, the team was able to add another key piece in veteran guard Marcus Smart.
Smart has a chance to be a key bench piece for the Lakers, assuming he can stay healthy.
According to a report from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, Los Angeles and Smart agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract following his buyout from the Washington Wizards.
Rob Pelinka and the Lakers are focused on building around generational superstar Luka Dončić. That is further seen by the drama that has formed between LeBron James and the franchise. With James having just one year left on his contract, Los Angeles is clearly moving forward with Dončić as their centerpiece.
Legion Hoops shared on X a report from ESPN. Dončić reportedly recruited Smart to play with the Lakers.
During the 2024-25 NBA season with the Memphis Grizzlies and Wizards, Smart only played in 34 games. He averaged nine points per game and contributed 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. Smart shot 39.3 percent from the floor and 34.8 percent from three-point range.
Obviously, the move for Smart is not going to be the addition that makes the Lakers a championship contender. However, for a team that badly needed more perimeter defense, he will have a chance to play a key role for Los Angeles.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact Smart is able to have on the Lakers. Not long ago, he was an extremely valuable player that many teams around the NBA wanted.
As recently as the 2023-24 season, after being traded to the Grizzlies from the Boston Celtics, Smart averaged 14.5 points, 4.3 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game in 20 games. He’s capable of putting up big numbers when he is given a consistent role and is healthy.
Expect to see Los Angeles remain active in the NBA rumor mill. James still has to figure out his future, and the Lakers could still be interested in another roster addition or two if the right moves are made.
