The Lakers' offseason took an intriguing turn with the addition of a former adversary.
Saturday, Los Angeles reached an agreement to sign former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Smart, 31, will join the Lakers after completing a buyout with the Wizards.
After managing just one win before getting eliminated from the 2025 playoffs, the Lakers have used the offseason to address some of their glaring issues from the postseason. Smart fits that bill.
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Here's more on L.A.'s decision to add Smart and how he fits within the Lakers' plans.
Why did the Lakers sign Marcus Smart?
The Lakers signed Smart to address a need for point-of-attack defense while also adding more guard depth.
Smart is three years removed from winning the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award, but he still has a reputation as one of the league's fiercest perimeter defenders. He has been heavily limited by injuries in recent years, appearing in just 54 games over the past two seasons.
The move was also made with L.A.'s core in mind, as superstar Luka Doncic reportedly played a large role in Smart's recruitment. Doncic is reported to have "made it clear that he wanted to play with the two-way stalwart."
As a notable footnote, LeBron James listed Smart as an aspirational player comparison for his son, Bronny, during a 2024 episode of "Mind the Game" alongside then-co-host JJ Redick, who is now entering his second season as the Lakers' head coach.
After spending the first nine years of his career becoming a fan favorite with the Celtics, Smart was dealt to Memphis in the 2023 offseason. He spent one and a half seasons with the Grizzlies before being dealt to the Wizards at the 2025 trade deadline.
NBA salary cap expert Keith Smith acknowledged that the Lakers will need to make corresponding moves to accommodate Smart's cap figure. Los Angeles could either waive or trade a series of players
MORE: Making sense of the offseason rumors swirling around LeBron James
Lakers offseason moves 2025
Adding Smart is the latest in a series of notable moves involving the Lakers this offseason.
Los Angeles has not made a major splash per se, but it has added a presumed starter in Deandre Ayton, two rotational reserves in Smart and Jake LaRavia and a promising rookie in second-round pick Adou Thiero.
- June 26: Lakers trade up to select Arkansas' Adou Thiero 36th overall in the NBA Draft. Thiero, 21, is an athletic 6-8 forward who addresses LA's need for more youth and athleticism on the roster.
- June 30: Lakers agree to terms of a two-year contract with free agent Jake LaRavia. LaRavia will be 24 next season and is a career 37.1 percent 3-point shooter who fits the mold of a 3-and-D wing that thrives next to James and Doncic.
- July 2: Lakers reach agreement with Deandre Ayton on a two-year deal with a second-year option. Ayton addresses Lakers' need for a starting-caliber center and is expected to benefit from their superstars' playmaking.
- July 19: Lakers reach agreement with Marcus Smart on a two-year deal with a second-year option. Smart is a point-of-attack defender who has experience playing on the game's biggest stages.
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Marcus Smart contract details
Smart is signing a two-year deal with the Lakers worth $11 million, according to Charania.
The deal keeps Smart under contract with Los Angeles through the next season and includes a player option for 2026-27.
Marcus Smart stats
2024-25
- 9.0 points per game
- 2.1 rebounds per game
- 3.2 assists per game
- 1.1 steals per game
- 0.3 blocks per game
- 1.8 turnovers per game
- 39.3 percent field goal shooting
- 34.8 percent 3-point shooting
- 76.1 percent free throw shooting
Career
- 10.6 points per game
- 3.4 rebounds per game
- 4.6 assists per game
- 1.6 steals per game
- 0.4 blocks per game
- 1.9 turnovers per game
- 38.8 percent field goal shooting
- 32.4 percent 3-point shooting
- 77.6 percent free throw shooting