Congratulations! Smart joined the Lakers for $1,100 in two years, and the championship is stable

Just when you think the Los Angeles Lakers have been forced into a desperate situation, they can always find a way to sign talented players. This offseason, the Lakers have used the buyout market to strengthen the market twice: the first time was when DeAndre Ayton signed him after he reached a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers. Today, after the Washington Wizards bought out Marcus Smart, the Lakers immediately signed the previous defensive player of the year.

According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, Marcus Smart has reached a buyout agreement with the Wizards and plans to join the Lakers after a clarification period. The Lakers will sign a new two-year, $11 million contract with Smart, with the second year including player options.

According to Charania, sources said Luka Doncic played an important role in recruiting Smart to Los Angeles. It is reported that the Lakers, Suns and Bucks have all obtained Wizards' permission to contact Smart, and Smart has had active conversations with all three teams.

According to salary expert Josie Gozlan, the Lakers can sign Smart with their full biennial exception. They need to clean up about $4.2 million in salary to use the full exception, which means they will cut Shaq Milton and Jordan Goodwin. Smart, 31, was elected defensive player of the year in 2022, but his career fell to a low point after being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the summer of 2023. He played only 39 games in one and a half season with the Grizzlies due to injury, and was sent to the Wizards before this year's trade deadline.

JorSMART can stay healthy and will bring much needed defensive support to the Lakers' backcourt. With the All-Star lineup of James, Doncic, Reeves and Ayton, the Lakers' championship will be stable next season. Last season, Smart played 19 games for the Grizzlies and 15 games for the Wizards. He averaged 9.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 20 minutes of playing time, with a shooting percentage of 39.3%, a three-point shooting percentage of 34.8%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 76.1%.