In a significant development within the NBA, veteran point guard Marcus Smart is set to change teams for the third time in three years, following a recent buyout agreement with the Washington Wizards. The agreement, reported by Shams Charania of ESPN, paves the way for Smart to sign a two-year contract valued at $11 million with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Smart's move comes after a challenging season in which he played only 34 games, averaging 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in approximately 20 minutes of playing time. A lingering injury to his right index finger affected his performance throughout the 2024-25 season. Initially acquired by the Wizards from the Memphis Grizzlies at the 2025 trade deadline, Smart had previously joined the Grizzlies from the Boston Celtics before the 2023-24 season, with hopes that his experience would aid a team with a promising young core.

Despite a season hampered by injuries, which saw him miss more games over the past two seasons than he did during his nine years with the Celtics, Smart remains recognized as one of the league's foremost defensive players. The 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is anticipated to make a substantial contribution to the Lakers' quest for playoff contention, with notable recruiting efforts reportedly involving Luka Doncic expressing a desire to play alongside Smart.