The LA Lakers are set to sign Marcus Smart, a former defensive player of the year.
His acquisition from the Washington Wizard becomes official and when he clears the exemption, Marcus Smart signs the LA Lakers.
ESPN reports that Smart has agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal, attracting interest from the New York Knicks.
Luka Doncic played a key role in persuading Smart to join the Lakers. He knows exactly how good the 31-year-old is and what he can bring to the team.
Since drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2014, Smart has named himself as one of the most competitive players in the NBA, bringing aggression to the Lakers.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neill is a TNT analyst and he was a tough guy to win for years.
During the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals between Smart’s Celtics and the Miami Heat, O’Neill spoke about Smart’s opponent, Jimmy Butler.
He had denied Smart’s qualification as defensive player of the year, claiming he could not shut down Butler.
Speaking during the intense segment, O’Neill said:
“He’s at that level right now, no one’s stopping him… Marcus Smart hasn’t closed Jimmy Butler. If he wants to get a 40, he can get a 40… I don’t want to hear the defensive player that year.”
Marcus Smart played a key role as the Boston Celtics booked their place in the NBA Finals as they won a Series 4-3.
And one former La Laker who thanked him for his efforts was Magic Johnson, who made a note of how Jimmy Butler was shut down.
He writes to X:
“Smart was an important difference maker. He scored 24 points and was a great facilitator tonight, adding 12 assists and nine rebounds. His defense against Jimmy Butler was also outstanding.”
Marcus Smart was traded in 2023 by the Boston Celtics after losing the 2022 final to The Warriors.
After a stint with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Washington Wizard, Marcus Smart will prove a lot alongside La Lakers.
Back under the spotlight, Smart is attracting attention and already proves he can deal with scrutiny of his performance under the spotlight.
And, interestingly, there’s a possibility that Magic Johnson will once again be involved with the Lakers. As an advisor to the new ownership group, he has a business relationship that marks Walter.
Byron Scott has already suggested that there could be a change in the front office where Johnson is more involved and has been given Marcus Smart’s praise.