The Los Angeles Lakers scored another major coup in what has been a solid offseason for the franchise after landing former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart from the buyout market.
The signing of Smart, who started his career with the Lakers’ arch-rival Boston Celtics, drew strong reactions around the league.
It was the reaction of The Ringer’s founder, Bill Simmons, who is a die-hard Celtics fan, that turned heads.
“Ahhhhhhh I’ve gone blind! Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!,” Simmons posted on X, attached with the edited photo of Smart in a Lakers uniform.
Smart is joining the Lakers once he clears waivers after reaching a buyout with the rebuilding Washington Wizards, ESPN’s senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported on July 19. The three-time All-Defensive guard will sign a two-year, $11 million deal, with the second season a player option.
He is the latest former prominent Celtics player who switched to the Lakers, joining Rajon Rondo, Rick Fox, Avery Bradley and Isaiah Thomas.
Smart is also the second player the Lakers have snagged in the buyout market after former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton. They have to clear a roster spot and salary to sign Smart, with Shake Milton (non-guaranteed $3 million contract) the odd man out.
Luka Doncic Plays Key Role in Marcus Smart Addition
According to Charania, the Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks in pursuit of Smart.
Lakers star Luka Doncic directly recruited him and made it clear to Smart that he wanted to play with him, Charania added.
NBA insider Marc Stein also shed more light on Doncic’s recruiting effort.
“Lakers star Luka Doncic 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 [Washington] Wizards to explore potential post-buyout landing spots,” Marc Stein of reported via X.
Lakers’ High-Risk, High-Reward Signing
Getty Injury-prone former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart is joining the Los Angeles Lakers.
The point of attack defense has been a priority for the Lakers after filling their center hole with Ayton. Smart, who was the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, will fill that role.
However, the Smart signing comes with a major risk.
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 only appeared in 54 games over the last two seasons due to injuries while splitting his time in Memphis and Washington.
After only appearing in 20 games in his first season with the Memphis Grizzlies, they cut bait when they salary-dumped him to the Washington Wizards at the trade deadline.
Smart would only see action for 15 games in the nation’s capital, 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. There is also the real possibility Smart would star in a three-guard lineup with Doncic and Austin Reaves alongside LeBron James and Ayton.
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