Marcus Smart’s Sudden Exit from Wizards Sparks Major Shakeup—Why the Lakers Deal Could Change Everything

Once he clears waivers, Smart is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, .5 million contract (for the bi-annual exemption), with the second year of that being a player option (the Lakers have to create a bit of cap space to make that signing, expect them to waive Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin in the coming days).
Luka Doncic recruited Smart personally, according to The Athletic.
This might be the least surprising buyout of the offseason: Marcus Smart and the Washington Wizards have agreed to terms on a buyout, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by multiple other reports.
Well, here we go — the offseason just can’t get any more predictable, can it? Marcus Smart and the Washington Wizards are parting ways via buyout, a move many saw coming from miles away. Shams Charania broke the news first, and as expected, the details have been picked up and backed by several sources since. Once Smart clears waivers, he’s pegged to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a nifty two-year deal worth .5 million, making savvy use of the bi-annual exception — with the second year giving him some control through a player option. The Lakers, always looking to free some cap space, are likely to clear the decks by cutting Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin soon enough.

With the buyout, the Wizards will save about .8 million this season. More importantly, it removes an impediment to more playing time for the Wizards’ many young guards, including Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Cam Whitmore, and others. The Wizards are going to play their youth big minutes this season and be thinking long term (and about having a high lottery pick in 2026, which is considered a very good draft at the top).
On the flip side, the Wizards stand to save around .8 million this season, and more critically, they’re unlocking the door for their young backcourt talent — Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Cam Whitmore, and others who are eager to grab major minutes. Washington’s all about youth movement and future draft prospects, eyeing that promising 2026 lottery class, so this buyout is as much about their long-term vision as it is about salary savings. It’s a calculated shuffle on both ends of the league’s spectrum — one veteran’s fresh start paired with another team’s youth revolution.Smart, now 31, still packs that defensive punch and bench scoring potential that could fill a crucial gap for the Lakers. Remember, this is the Defensive Player of the Year from 2022 we’re talking about — a guy who averaged 14.5 points per game with solid efficiency just a couple of seasons ago. Sure, last year was rough, limited games and a noticeable dip in shooting percentage, but the Lakers are banking on this being a one-time blip and expecting him to bounce back, probably sharing bench duties with Austin Reaves. Interestingly, Luka Doncic had a personal hand in recruiting Smart, according to reports from The Athletic, so that adds some intriguing layers to this story.LEARN MORESmart, 31, if he can stay healthy and find his rhythm from a couple of seasons ago, would bring much-needed on-ball perimeter defense to the Lakers, as well as some secondary shot creation for the bench when called upon. In 2022, Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year, and two seasons ago he averaged 14.5 points a game on close to league-average efficiency. However, last season, injuries limited him to 34 games, during which he averaged 9 points per game on 39.3% shooting. The Lakers are betting this is a one-off season, that his game hasn’t slipped and he can return to form, likely coming off the bench behind Austin Reaves.