The Los Angeles Lakers are continuing to reshape their roster ahead of the new NBA season, and their latest move has sent shockwaves through the league. In a bold and calculated decision, the Lakers have officially signed 6-foot-3 guard Marcus Smart, a former Boston Celtics star and NBA Defensive Player of the Year. This signing comes just two days after the Lakers waived guards Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin, signaling a clear shift in the team’s backcourt strategy.
Smart, who was recently bought out by the Washington Wizards, brings a wealth of experience and grit to the Lakers’ roster. At 31 years old, he spent the first nine seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics, where he built a reputation as one of the most tenacious and intelligent defenders in the league. Though his offensive numbers were solid, it was Smart’s defensive prowess that truly made him a star.
His ability to read plays, disrupt offensive sets, and guard multiple positions earned him the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award—making him the first guard to win the honor since Gary Payton in 1996.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin confirmed the news on social media, sharing a screenshot of the Lakers’ official press release and writing, “Marcus Smart is officially a Laker.” The addition of Smart is not just a defensive boost for the Lakers, but also appears to be part of a broader effort to build a team capable of slowing down elite Western Conference stars—particularly Dallas Mavericks sensation Luka Dončić. The Lakers have faced Dončić in numerous tightly contested matchups in recent years, and bringing in a defender of Smart’s caliber may be a tactical response to one of their toughest opponents.
Smart’s unique defensive style is characterized by his physicality, anticipation, and the ability to angle his body in ways that make straight-line drives nearly impossible for opponents. He’s known for taking calculated risks on defense—gambling on steals at just the right moment—and often emerging victorious. That type of defensive intuition is invaluable for a Lakers team that has, at times, struggled with perimeter containment.
But it’s not just his on-court ability that makes Smart an appealing addition. He’s also a strong leader and high-energy presence in the locker room—qualities that can have a major influence on younger players and role players throughout the season. With veteran stars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis still anchoring the team, Smart’s arrival brings added stability and depth, particularly in a Western Conference that is more competitive than ever.
For the Lakers, this move is more than just a roster adjustment—it’s a clear signal that they’re serious about contending this year. By offloading backcourt players who didn’t fit their defensive mold and bringing in one of the league’s premier defenders, the franchise is doubling down on physicality, intensity, and smart basketball.
Whether Smart starts or comes off the bench, his impact is expected to be felt immediately on both ends of the floor. And if the Lakers hope to make a deep playoff run, adding a player with Marcus Smart’s championship mindset and defensive dominance might be exactly what they need.