Marcus Smart is the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers, and it might not have happened if not for the persistence of Luka Dončić.
Smart officially signed a 2-year, $11 million contract with the Lakers on Tuesday after agreeing to a buyout on the final year of his contract with the Washington Wizards. In his first public comments since joining his new team, the 31-year-old guard said the allure of playing alongside Dončić and LeBron James was too good to pass up. But Smart also revealed it was Dončić who helped facilitate this move to Los Angeles.
‘When you get a guy like Luka calling, checking on you, trying to see where you’re at, and to see if you wanted to come and join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here,’ Smart told reporters at the Lakers practice facility, ‘for him to say that he could really use my help, that meant a lot.’
Smart, an 11-year NBA veteran, has endured two injury-riddled seasons since the Boston Celtics traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season. The Grizzlies then dealt Smart to the Wizards at the trade deadline last February. The former NBA defensive player of the year averaged 9 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds over 34 games during the 2024-25 season.
Smart noted that although he and Dončić didn’t have a prior relationship, there was a mutual respect from their battles on the court over the years. Smart is joining a Lakers team that won 50 games and finished third in the Western Conference standings after pulling off the stunning trade that sent Doncic to Los Angeles and former Lakers forward Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
But the Lakers lost in five games to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs, and Smart’s addition is seen as one that could potentially benefit Los Angeles most once it gets to the postseason.
‘Adding a player like Marcus Smart to our roster allows us to compete at the highest level,’ Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said in a statement. ‘Marcus epitomizes what it means to prioritize winning above all else – whether that’s making huge plays on the defensive end or hitting critical shots in key moments of the most intense games. He knows and understands playoff winning and will be a key leadership voice in our group. Surrounding our stars with two-way players like Marcus is critical to our overall vision of how we want to play and win next season. This is an exciting player acquisition, for sure.’
Smart played his first nine seasons with the Celtics, becoming a beloved figure in Boston playing alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He was traded to the Grizzlies before the Celtics won the 2024 NBA championship. He is one of several new additions to the roster, most notably center DeAndre Ayton.
Smart had one year and $21 million remaining on his previous contract extension, which was originally signed with the Celtics. The exact terms of his buyout with the Wizards are unclear, but Smart said he prioritized returning to a contender to prove he can still be the player he used to be.
‘I’m very motivated,’ Smart said. ‘. . . I still have a lot left in the tank.’
