Breaking NBA News: Marcus Smart Gets His Buyout & Signs With Lakers

A big development for the former Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA, as Marcus Smart has gotten a buyout from the Washington Wizards, and is signing a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

It's a two-year, $11 million deal for Smart with LA, who get a huge defensive boost for their backcourt to put alongside Luka Doncic (who, says Shams Charania, recruited Smart to LA). He'll have a player option on the second year.

Smart was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 while with the Boston Celtics, and is a three-time All-Defensive First Team member. After losing Dorian Finney-Smith this offseason, the Lakers desperately needed to upgrade their on-ball defense. It doesn't get much better than Smart—if he's healthy.

He hasn't played much in the past couple of seasons due to injuries, only 54 games total, but is still just 31, and appears to be healthy for the coming season.

The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks were apparently also in on Smart, and made seriously attempts to woo him, but he has made his choice to join Luka and LeBron in LA.

Smart has career marks of 10.6 points per game with 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals.