The LA Lakers beat competition from the New York Knicks to line up a deal to sign Marcus Smart.
Marcus Smart is set to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, having agreed a buyout with the Washington Wizards.
ESPN broke the news Marcus Smart will join the Lakers, who will sign him to a two-year $11 million contract.
To complete the move the Lakers need to create salary space, which could involve waiving players or making a low-level trade.
Marcus Smart had a chance to stay in the Eastern Conference, with the New York Knicks expressing interest.
Stefon Bondy of the New York Post reported: “Knicks had checked in on Marcus Smart but my understanding is he desired a spot with a clearer path to playing time.”
He later added: “Per source, Knicks couldn’t offer the type of role Marcus Smart was looking for”.
There was a time last season when the New York Knicks were considered to have one of the weakest benches in the NBA. This was emphasized by Tom Thibodeau’s reluctance to rotate his lineup, no matter his options.
Now with Mike Brown hired as head coach, and Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele added in free agency, the Knicks are expected to be a better balanced team in 2025-26.
The depth on the Lakers is such that Marcus Smart could become their fifth man in the starting rotation.
He would add balance after Dorian Finney-Smith’s departure to the Rockets, and could line up alongside Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton; or come off the bench to replace Rui Hachimura.
One of the key factors behind Smart’s signing was Doncic reaching out to him, and it’s likely the Slovenian has a role in mind where the new addition will help him out.
