{"id":151181,"date":"2025-07-19T17:50:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T21:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=151181"},"modified":"2025-07-20T13:17:05","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T17:17:05","slug":"lakers-sign-marcus-smart-offseason-twist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/19\/lakers-sign-marcus-smart-offseason-twist\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers to Sign Former DPOY in Offseason Twist"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lakers got the defensive-minded player they wanted after weeks of searching. LA will sign 2022 Defensive Player of the Year <\/span>Marcus Smart<\/span><\/a> to a <\/span>two-year, $11 million contract<\/span><\/a> following a buyout from the Washington Wizards.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers to Sign Former DPOY in Offseason Twist<\/b><\/h2>\n

What Smart Brings to the Lakers<\/b><\/h3>\n

A three-time All-Defensive First Team selection, Marcus Smart is a versatile 3-and-D guard who fills the point-of-attack role the Lakers have prioritized this summer. Drafted sixth overall in 2014, Smart has averaged 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game on .388\/.324\/.776 splits.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dec
Dec 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (36) at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a nine-year career with the Celtics, who made the postseason every year Smart was there, the 31-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Grizzlies and Wizards. While he has dealt with numerous injuries in that span, Smart elevates the Lakers\u2019 defense and adds significant depth to their guard rotation behind <\/span>Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a>. He\u2019s also a solid jump shooter and playmaker, and thus could jolt the Lakers bench with a reliable offensive output.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking of Doncic, he reportedly <\/span>recruited Smart<\/span><\/a> and sold him on the idea of joining the purple and gold, a sign of positive things to come in the next couple seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The Lakers have been hopeful Marcus Smart would be available to them as the team tries to beef up its point of attack defense. Health will be a question, but he possesses a physicality on the perimeter the team needs<\/p>\n

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n