Marcus Smart has reached an agreement for the termination of his contract with the Washington Wizards and plans to sign a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers once waivers clear, according to sources close to the situation.
Smart, Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and a three-time member of the All-Defense first team, will have a player option in his new contract with the Lakers to enter a more lucrative free agency in 2026, according to sources.
The Lakers’ All-NBA star, Luka Doncic, contacted Smart and made it clear that he wanted to play with the mainstay on both sides of the court, according to sources.
This planned move marks a return to a big stage for Smart, who played in the playoffs in each of his first nine seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics. He missed the postseason in the last two years in Memphis and Washington.
Smart has also been limited to 54 games in the last two seasons due to injuries, including one to his right finger last season, and averaged 20 minutes per game in 2024-25, the lowest figure of his career.
The Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Milwaukee Bucks seriously pursued Smart, who received permission to speak with the teams along with his agent, Jason Glushon, and held positive conversations with the staffs of the three teams, according to sources. Following the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith, an attacking perimeter defender was one of the Lakers’ main needs.
The Lakers plan to waive guard Shake Milton to create a roster spot and sign Smart, according to sources.
Milton’s $3 million contract for next season would have been fully guaranteed on Sunday.
Milton, 28 years old, was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers from the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Finney-Smith and D’Angelo Russell trade last December. The seven-year veteran averaged 3.9 points on 43.3% shooting, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 30 appearances with the Lakers, making one start.
