The Lakers‘ lack of perimeter defense proved costly to the team in the 2025 playoffs against the Timberwolves. Entering the 2025-26 season, the Lakers are said to be prioritizing adding defensive-minded players, especially at the wing position.
One player who fits that mold is Wizards guard Marcus Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive First Team selection.
The Lakers are among the betting favorites to land Smart via trade, per online sportsbook Bovada.
Athlon Sports’ Matt John argued that a Smart-Lakers pairing makes perfect sense for both parties.
“Smart is a former Defensive Player of the Year who helped the Celtics make multiple extensive playoff runs, including a run to the NBA Finals in 2022,” he wrote. “However, since Boston traded him in 2023, Smart has only appeared in 54 games combined over the last two seasons. Nonetheless, a healthy Smart could help LA.”
Lakers Trade Pitch for Marcus Smart
Fadeaway World proposed a Lakers trade that would send Smart to Los Angeles in exchange for two role players and a second-round pick.
Lakers would receive: Marcus Smart
Wizards would receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, 2025 No. 55 Overall Pick
Eddie Bitar contended that Smart’s versatility as a defender — and ability to guard at least four positions — would make an invaluable fit on an aging Lakers roster.
“Smart’s ability to guard multiple positions and his willingness to take on challenging defensive assignments would be invaluable in the playoffs. His presence could set the tone for the team’s defensive identity, complementing the offensive talents of LeBron and Luka.
“Trading Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, and the 55th overall pick for Smart could be a strategic move for the Lakers because Reaves or Hachimura would not get touched in a deal.”
Wizards Shopping Smart
While Smart can instantly help a title contender, teams in the league aren’t willing to move heaven and earth to acquire him.
According to Hardwood Paroxysm, the Wizards are openly shopping Smart but haven’t received much traction int trade talks.
“The Wizards would like to move Marcus Smart to a contender, but there’s been little interest so far,” read the report. “He might be one of the guys moved in the latter days of free agency after teams strike out on other targets.”
Smart has become increasingly injury-prone in recent years, which would likely explain his diminishing trade value. The 31-year-old appeared in only 34 games for the Grizzlies and Wizards in 2024-25, 20 for the Grizzlies in 2023-24 and 61 games for the Celtics in 2022-23. Overall, he’s missed 131 games over his last three seasons.
Another reason for Smart’s diminishing trade value could be his poor perimeter shooting. The veteran guard is a career 32% shooter from deep, with an overall field goal percentage of 38%. His assist numbers have also gradually dropped since he averaged a career-high 6.3 dimes in the 2022-23 season — to a lowly 2.7 in 2023-24 and 2.1 last season. As such, he’s not viewed as a prototypical point guard or floor general, but more of a combo guard on the floor for his hustle plays and defense.
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