Veteran guard Marcus Smart has reached a buyout agreement with the Washington Wizards and plans to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, a person with knowledge of Smart’s plans told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the moves are official.
The Lakers will get depth in the backcourt and a solid defender with significant playoff experience. His scoring numbers took a dip last season, and he has played in just 54 games over the past two seasons.
Smart, the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, came to Washington from Memphis in a February trade deadline deal. The Wizards received a first-round pick from Memphis in the trade. Jake LaRavia was dealt from Memphis to Sacramento in the three-team deal, and he is now with the Lakers on two-year, $10 million deal he agreed to during free agency.
Smart, 31, played in 34 games last season (15 for the Wizards due to multiple injuries, including an injury to his right index finger that sidelined him for 22 games.
For his 11-year career, including the first nine with the Boston Celtics, Smart has averaged 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals and shot 38.8% from the field. He has made the All-Defensive team three times.