Marcus Smart is officially a Los Angeles Laker.
The Purple and Gold have announced the signing of the former Defensive Player of the Year, making a key move in what’s been a busy offseason for the team.
Smart and the Washington Wizards came to an agreement on a contract buyout, which allowed the 31-year-old to sign a two-year, $10 million deal to team up with superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Before landing in LA, Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the 2023-24 season and later moved to the Washington Wizards in February as part of a deadline deal.
Smart earned the top individual defensive honors in 2022, leading the Boston Celtics to the Finals stage that year and contributing to nine straight playoff appearances during his time with the team.
He’s also been named to the All-Defensive First Team three times and was a regular starter for Boston throughout the final five years of his tenure before the move to Memphis in 2023.
However, injuries have kept Smart off the court for much of the past two seasons as the veteran played only 54 games during that stretch.
Though Smart hasn’t been a heavy scorer—never averaging more than 13.1 points per game in a season—his defensive skills are exactly what the Lakers need.
With a roster already featuring high-caliber scorers, Smart is expected to play a significant role as the team’s defensive anchor, especially after losing Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency.
In addition to Smart, the Lakers have added former top pick Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia to their roster as LA hopes to go further after their first-round exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves last April.
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