The LA Lakers lined up contracts to beat the competition with the New York Knicks and sign Marcus Smart.
Marcus Smart is set to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, agreeing to an acquisition with the Washington Wizards.
ESPN has defeated the news that Marcus Smart will join the Lakers.
To complete the move, the Lakers will need to create a payroll space. This allows players to exempt players and make low-level trading.
Marcus Smart had the opportunity to remain at the Eastern Conference, with the New York Knicks expressing their interest.
Stefon Bondy of the New York Post reported: “The Knicks checked in with Marcus Smart, but my understanding was that he wanted a place with a clearer path to playing time.”
He later added: “The Knicks were unable to provide the type of role Marcus Smart was looking for,” according to sources.
There was a time last season when the New York Knicks were considered to have one of the weakest benches in the NBA. This was emphasized by Tom Thibodeau’s reluctance to spin his lineup, regardless of his options.
Now, with Mike Brown being hired as head coach and Jordan Clarkson and Gerson Jabselle added to free agency, the Knicks are expected to become a better and more balanced team from 2025-26.
The Lakers’ depth is like Marcus Smart could be the fifth man in the starting rotation.
He added balance after Dorian Finney Smith set out for the Rockets and was able to line up alongside Luka Donsic, LeBron James, Austin Raves and DeAndre Ayton. Or, remove it from the bench to replace the Rui Hachimura.
One of the key factors behind Smart’s signatures is reaching out to him, and it is possible that the Slovenians have in mind that new additions will help him.