Marcus Smart Changes Everything For The Los Angeles Lakers

Marcus Smart Changes Everything For The Los Angeles Lakers

Marcus Smart has agreed to a contact buyout with the Wizards. The Wizards guard bought out his contract with the team. Plans to sign a two-year deal to go to the Lakers. Smart has a player option after the first year, which would allow him to enter free agency at that time. Marcus Smart just did the most unthinkable thing I’ve ever seen a member of the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers do. Since Shaquille O’Neal decided to sign with the Boston Celtics at the end of his career just to chase one more ring so he could have something over Kobe. What Marcus Mark just did was sacrilege in the face of Boston Celtic fans and has added a brand new layer to this rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers. A player that I originally thought was considering to go back to Boston has now joined their arch nemesis. Now some people are going to come out here and say, “But Mike Marcus Smart is washed. He hasn’t been good in 2 years. Well, we’re going to break down this entire signing in the most unbiased way possible. I will warn you, I am a Laker fan, but I’m going to tell you what to expect from Marcus Smart, why the Los Angeles Lakers made this move, and why Marcus Smart decided to choose the Los Angeles Lakers over each and every other team that was pursuing him. And believe me, there were other teams that were providing larger roles and better opportunities than the Lakers. So, before we get to the content, once again, I am currently trying to take a little bit of a vacation. And I think I may have started a little bit too early, guys. I’m never taking a trip that starts in the middle of July ever again. I’m up at like 1:00 a.m. recording NBA news, and I’m getting the news to you guys 1 to 2 days late. So, my apologies for that. And my setup is clearly not what it typically is. But if you guys want to get the latest NBA news and analysis, make sure you subscribe and turn on our notifications. And if you want to see what I’m up to as I’m traveling, follow me on Instagram. Now that we got all that out of the way, cue the intro. [Music] [Music] As a result of my brand new partnership with Fantasy Aces, we have been profiting like crazy via my new Discord server. I’m going to leave a link to it in the W link in the description down below. And if you haven’t signed up for prize pickics, make sure you use my promo code microphone to get a free $50 when you make a play of $5 or more. And thank you prize picks for today’s sponsor, Mic Check11212. What’s going on everybody? Okay, this chair is a little bit more comfortable than the last one. On July 19th, 2025, Marcus Smart officially agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after getting bought out by the Washington Wizards. We’re talking about a 2-year, $11 million deal with a player option for the second year. And if you think this is just another veteran that’s ring chasing, you are missing the bigger picture. Because with all due respect, I don’t think the Los Angeles Lakers are the top contender in the Western Conference. At least not right now. This isn’t just Marcus Smart joining the Lakers. This is Marcus Smart joining the Boston Celtics biggest rivals after Boston basically told him his 9 years of blood, sweat, and literal floor burns meant nothing. Let me paint you the full picture of who Marcus Smart was to the Celtics because this signing hits different when you understand the history. Marcus Smart wasn’t just a player for the Celtics. He was the Celtics for 9 years. We’re talking about a guy who averaged 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.5 rebounds across 581 games in a Boston uniform. But those numbers don’t tell you about the dude who would literally throw his body into the third row for a loose ball. or the guy who became only the sixth guard in NBA history to win defensive player of the year in 2022. Marcus Smart made the playoffs in all nine of his seasons with Boston. Think about that. Nine straight playoff appearances. This man was there for five Eastern Conference Finals runs and the 2022 NBA Finals. what he did for the Celtics doesn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet because he was the emotional leader, the guy who set the tone defensively and honestly the heartbeat of that entire organization. But here’s where it gets personal and here’s where the betrayal angle really starts to make sense. On June 2023, Marcus Smart is coming off of helping the Celtics reach another Eastern Conference Finals, thinking that he’s safe with the 4-year 77 million extension he signed just one year earlier. But the Boston Celtics had other plans. In one of the most bittersweet trades in Boston Celtics history, Marcus Smart was the sacrificial lamb in order for the Celtics to win their most recent championship. But when you look at it from a human element, obviously this hits a little bit differently. According to Smart himself, he had asked the team multiple times about trade rumors. Sams had already tweeted it out and that’s how we found out. It was definitely shocking to find out that way, especially because the week before I was already told that it was no trade talk to me and I was good. So then boom, he finds out that he’s been traded to Memphis on Twitter. Not from the team, not from his agent first, but from Sham’s Chirana on social media. Imagine giving 9 years of your career to an organization, becoming the face of their defense and finding out you’ve been shipped out the same way us regular folks find out about celebrity breakups. Smart later said that, if I’m being quite frank, I knew I would be traded eventually, but I just figured it would be next season just based off my contract and with the new CBA. But it was just the way it happened. The man was heartbroken. And honestly, who wouldn’t be? Now, I want to be abundantly clear. I don’t blame the Celtics for making this decision. And originally, their plan A wasn’t trading Marcus Smart. Their plan A was trading Malcolm Brogden. But due to Malcolm Brogden’s injury, they had to pivot to plan B to get Chris Porzingis on their roster. So, they had no choice but to trade Marcus Smart. And originally, Smart was supposed to be the perfect fit on Memphis. Remember, Memphis just recently parted ways with Dylan Brooks for doing this. I don’t care. He’s old. I poke bears. I don’t respect no one till they come and give me 40. And pretty much they were hoping that Marcus Smart could be a less dramatic version of Dylan Brooks. This also worked perfectly because John was also set to start the season on a suspension and the Grizzlies lost Taius Jones. So, their guard depth was a little shaky. So Marcus Smart was set to have a huge role in changing up the Memphis Grizzlies culture, but basketball like life tends to have other plans. The 2023 to 24 season was basically a medical disaster for Smart. He only played 20 games due to a sprained ankle and finger injuries. And then this past season, the Memphis Grizzlies would officially pull the plug on the Marcus Smart experiment. And look at how pitiful this return was. Memphis traded Marcus Smart and a 2025 firstround pick just to get rid of him. and in return got Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis, and two second round picks. And this past season, split between Memphis and Washington was another injury riddled mess. Smart just played in 34 total games between both teams, averaging nine points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in about 20 minutes per game. For a guy who was averaging over 30 minutes per game in Boston, and was the defensive anchor, this had to be devastating. But here’s the kicker, and this is where that revenge angle I mentioned earlier comes into play. After all that struggle, after missing the playoffs for two straight years following nine consecutive playoff appearances in Boston, Smart said something that should have been a warning shot to the Celtics, saying, “You always want to be where you’re wanted, and another team’s trash is another team’s gold.” Talk about some foreshadowing. He literally said, “Another team’s trash is another team’s gold.” That quote hits a lot differently now, doesn’t it? And here’s where the story takes a turn that nobody saw coming and why the signing is so much bigger than just filling a roster spot. When Marcus Smart became available through the Wizards buyout, multiple teams were interested. The Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks both had conversations with them. But according to Shams, there was one phone call that changed everything. Luca Donuch personally reached out to Marcus Smart and made it crystal clear that he wanted the veteran defender on his team. Think about that for a second. a fivetime all-star, the face of the Lakers franchise, taking time to personally recruit a guy who’s been battling injuries and hasn’t played meaningful basketball in two years. But why would Luca want Marcus Smart so badly? Because he understands exactly what the Lakers need, and it’s not more offense. Let’s be real about what the Lakers were last season. They had the third best record in the Western Conference only to get bounced out by the lesser Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs despite having homecourt advantage. Do you know what their biggest weakness was? Perimeter defense, not having any front court depth, and JJ Reic forgetting how to make substitutions. When you’ve got Luca Donuch and Austin Reeves as your primary ball handlers, and LeBron James who’s now 40 years old, you need someone who can guard the other team’s best perimeter player every night. And that’s exactly what Marcus Smart brings. Even if he’s not the same guy who won defensive player of the year in 2022, the Lakers are expecting Smart to come off the bench and provide the defensive anchor that they’ve been missing since they’ve lost players like Danny Green and Contavius Caldwell Pope. At 6’4 and 220 lbs, Smart can still guard multiple positions, and his basketball IQ on defense hasn’t gone anywhere despite the injuries. Plus, here’s something people are overlooking. Smart shot 34.8% 8% from three last season on limited attempts. That’s actually solid for a role player. And in the Lakers system with Luca and LeBron creating open looks, that percentage could easily jump. But let’s talk about the deeper chess move that’s happening here. The Lakers didn’t just sign Marcus Smart. They used their full $5.1 million by annual exception on him. And they’re waving Shake Milton in order to make room. That shows that this wasn’t just an available veteran pickup. This was targeted. Remember, the Lakers also added DeAndre Aton this off seasonason. And so they’ve addressed their two biggest weaknesses, interior defense and perimeter defense. But Smart brings something that Aon can’t. Significantly more playoff experience. And he’s been to a couple of more championship games than he has. The man has 108 career playoff games under his belt with an average of 12.8 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in the postseason alone. When the playoffs come around and teams are targeting Luca on defense, Smart can switch on to their best scorer and let Luca conserve energy for offense. Now, here’s why Celtic fans are probably punching air right now. Boston just traded Drew Holiday back to Portland, creating a massive hole in their backcourt defense. They could have used Marcus Smart’s services, especially considering their history together. But more than that, this hits at the heart of what Celtic fans thought their organization stood for. Smart wasn’t just a player. He was the guy who embodied that Celtic pride mentality. He was the dude dying his hair green, diving for every loose ball and treating every regular season game like game seven of the NBA finals. For him to end up with the Los Angeles Lakers, their historic rivals after the way Boston treated him, that’s like your ex showing up to your family reunion with your biggest enemy. It’s not just painful, it’s humiliating. So, how does Marcus Smart’s contract look? While Smart is taking significantly less money than he was making with the Wizards, he gave up about $6.8 million to make this happen. But that player option for year two that puts him right back on the market for the 2026 free agency period, which is expected to be loaded with money due to the new TV deal. This isn’t about securing a long-term bag. This is about proving a point. Marcus Smart wants to show that he can still play meaningful basketball. And what better way to do that than helping the Los Angeles Lakers take the next step in this brand new era. Now, let’s zoom out and look at the bigger picture. The Lakers with Smart aren’t just getting better, they’re becoming a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. Again, think about their rotation now. They have Luca Donuch, Austin Reeves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and DeAndre Aiden as starters with Smart leading a bench unit that can actually defend. That’s a team that can hang with anyone in a sevename series. Smart gives them the versatility to switch defensively against teams like the Warriors or Nuggets. While his playoff experience could be crucial in those tight fourth quarters where championship teams are made, from Marcus Smart’s perspective, this move makes perfect sense for his legacy. If he retires after struggling with injuries in Memphis and Washington, he’s remembered as a guy who couldn’t stay healthy after leaving Boston. But if he helps the Lakers win a championship, suddenly he’s the veteran who provided the missing piece for a title run. Imagine if he helps the Lakers win a championship. That would be the ultimate middle finger to the Celtics. So, what should you expect from Marcus Martin in a Lakers uniform? Well, realistically, he’s probably looking at about 20 to 25 minutes per game coming off the bench with his role expanding in the playoffs when defensive intensity matters the most. His main job will be defending the other team’s best perimeter player and providing veteran leadership for a team that sometimes lacks grit. Don’t expect him to be a primary scorer, but do expect him to make winning plays when it matters most. The real test will be his health. If SM can stay on the court for 60 plus games this season, the Lakers become a completely different team defensively. If he’s battling injuries again, this signing becomes more about depth than impact. At the end of the day, this wouldn’t be the first time that a former Celtics legend decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers and try to help them and LeBron James win a championship as Rajan Rondo did the same thing in 2020 and it led to one of the most iconic pictures we’ve ever seen in NBA history. But let me know in the comments section down below. What do you guys think about the Marcus Smart signing? Aside from that, I don’t know if you guys heard, but Bronnie James just completely changed his life. I mean, this guy is not the same player he was last year. We did a deep dive into his summer league games, and I was shocked at his development. I’m going to leave a link to that in the end screen. I’ll meet you guys there. I’m your boy Mike, and I’m dropping our mic until our next upload. [Music]

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