In a notable move for the league, veteran point guard Marcus Smart is preparing to find a new home for the third time in three years, marking his second relocation in 2025. Reports from ESPN's Shams Charania indicate that Smart and the Washington Wizards have reached a contract buyout agreement, paving the way for the guard to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Charania highlighted that Luka Doncic, star player for the Dallas Mavericks, personally reached out to Smart to express his desire to play alongside him in Los Angeles.

The Lakers, along with the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, demonstrated interest in acquiring Smart, showcasing the competitive environment for the talented guard. Following his recent transaction, it is important to note that Smart was due to earn $21.6 million for the 2025-26 season on an expiring contract. The Wizards had previously obtained Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2025 trade deadline, highlighting the dynamic nature of player transactions in the league.

The 2024-25 season proved challenging for the 31-year-old Smart, as injuries limited him to just 34 combined appearances, during which he averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals over 20.0 minutes of play. He struggled with a right index finger injury throughout the year, which significantly impacted his performance. Smart's journey began with the Boston Celtics, who acquired him before the 2023-24 season with the hope that his experience would benefit a developing team. Despite posting career-high stats of 14.5 points and 2.1 steals that season, Smart's contributions were again curtailed by injuries, leading him to miss more games in the past two seasons than in his previous nine combined with the Celtics. Nonetheless, Smart remains respected as one of the league's premier defensive players. Having been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, he continues to offer potential value to teams aiming for playoff contention, with the Lakers keen on helping him regain his form as one of the league's top backcourt defenders.