For the third consecutive year, veteran point guard Marcus Smart is poised to change teams. The Washington Wizards and Smart have reportedly reached an agreement on a contract buyout, leading him to sign a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Smart's move to the Lakers was influenced by the outreach of star guard Luka Doncic, who expressed a desire to play alongside him. The Lakers faced competition from the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks in their pursuit of the seasoned guard. Smart was previously slated to earn $21.6 million during the 2025-26 season as part of an expiring contract, after being acquired by the Wizards from the Memphis Grizzlies at the recent trade deadline.

The 2024-25 season was particularly challenging for the 31-year-old Smart, as he was limited to just 34 games while averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals across 20.0 minutes per game. His performance was hindered by a right index finger injury that plagued him throughout the season. Originally acquired by the Grizzlies from the Boston Celtics before the 2023-24 season, Smart was expected to bring veteran leadership to a young team. Despite achieving career-high averages of 14.5 points and 2.1 steals that season, he also faced significant time on the bench due to injuries. Over the past two seasons, he has missed more games than in his previous nine seasons combined with the Celtics. Despite recent injury issues, Smart is still recognized as one of the premier defensive players in the league. The 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is anticipated to be a vital asset for the Lakers as they aim for a playoff run, with hopes that he can maintain his health and return to form as an elite backcourt defender.