Marcus Smart agrees to contract buyout with Wizards, set to join Lakers on two-year deal, per report
The NBA veteran, Marcus Smart, accepted a contract repurchase with the Washington Wizards and plans to sign an agreement of $ 11 million over two years with the Los Angeles Lakers after cleaning the exemptions, according to ESPN. The 31 -year -old, who has not played in just 54 games combined in the past two seasons due to injuries, brings a strong defensive presence to the Lakers.
In a corresponding decision, ESPN reported that the Lakers have given up the Shake Milton guard, whose $ 3 million contract for 2025-2026 would have become fully guaranteed on Sunday.
Smart, the defensive player of the year in 2022 and the triple winner of the first fully defensive team, has a player option to enter the free agency in 2026, according to Shams Charania, who also pointed out that the lakers star Luka Du Personally contacted Smart, which indicates that he wanted him to want the team two -directed from the team.
This decision is considered to be a significant boost for the defense of the Lakers and the depth of the rear area as they seek to run in deep playoffs.
During its 11 NBA seasons, Smart has an average of 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per match while establishing itself as one of the first defenders of the league perimeter. His career flies the average of 1.6 per match.
Smart appeared in just 15 games for Wizards after being exchanged in mid-season of Memphis Grizzlies in February. However, its tenacity and intensity remain very appreciated.
Smart spent the first nine years of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, who selected him with the overall choice n ° 6 of the 2014 NBA draft. He became the cornerstone of the defense of the franchise, helping to conduct the Celtics to appearances in the playoffs each year, including five trips in the final of the East Conference and an appearance in the final of the NBA in 2022.
