FA: Marcus Smart gets Buyout from WAS, Agrees to Go to LA

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. A return to a grand stage for the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

No me gusta

[KillerLeft]

Poor, poor Luka.

It's a good fit on paper, until you realize that Smart isn't the guy he used to be. It's a decent price, of course, but I don't think this is going to help much.

[Knutsen]

Poor, poor Luka.

It's a good fit on paper, until you realize that Smart isn't the guy he used to be. It's a decent price, of course, but I don't think this is going to help much.

They are saying that Luka told them to sign Smart because he wants to play with him.

[Smitty]

Lakers star Luka Dončić made a direct recruiting pitch to Marcus Smart this week that resonated with the veteran guard, league sources tell @TheSteinLine, after Smart's agent Jason Glushon was granted permission by the Wizards to explore potential post-buyout landing spots.


I think this is only the second time I’ve seen a report of Luka asking the FO for a specific player, the first being Gafford.

I think Smart is meh, but if Luka wants him, you make it happen.

[Jmaciscool]

Poor, poor Luka.

It's a good fit on paper, until you realize that Smart isn't the guy he used to be. It's a decent price, of course, but I don't think this is going to help much.

So...the Smart move by the Wizards was a smart move by the Wizards?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

I'm not high on Smart or Ayton but to me they're similar level signings as Dangelo Russell. Flawed players but cheap upside plays.

[SleepingHero]

@KeithSmithNBA
Looks like the Bi-Annual Exception for Marcus Smart. The Lakers will have to clear some room under their first-apron hard cap to make it happen.

Waiving Shake Milton will clear $3M, but another move will have to come to ultimately clear enough room to sign Smart.

[SleepingHero]

Poor, poor Luka.

It's a good fit on paper, until you realize that Smart isn't the guy he used to be. It's a decent price, of course, but I don't think this is going to help much.

He may not be the guy he used to be but he really doesn’t have to. He is still a guy you can play 20+ mins a game and trust down the stretch. Problem is health. 

But at the BAE, Smart is much more appetizing than his former deal. I’m curious to see how he fits next to Luka. I’ve wanted Smart as a Luka running mate before. Does his stellar defense overcome his poor shooting now? Do the Lakers even care given how sorely needed perimeter defense is? Can Smart stay healthy enough? He’s obviously betting on himself making his deal a 1+1.

Still. The Lakers got a steal here in terms of value. They keep getting saved from buyouts crazily enough.

[KillerLeft]

They are saying that Luka told them to sign Smart because he wants to play with him.

Well, then he deserves what he gets, I guess. 

What I'm seeing is a whole lotta knuckleheads heading to the same team. I could be wrong, but Luka winning a championship with DeAndre Ayton and Marcus Smart on his team isn't something I expect.

[KillerLeft]

So...the Smart move by the Wizards was a smart move by the Wizards?

I guess I'm dumb. I don't follow, sorry.

[KillerLeft]

In full transparency, Smart has always been one of my least favorite players in the NBA (as has Ayton). I thought he was overrated even back when he was "good."

I might be biased against this move for that reason, but I'll say again: I'm not impressed with LA.

[omahen]

Good move for the Lakers. They are patching holes they need to patch without giving up any assets. Of course it is difficult to expect that guys that other teams rather buy out than keep will be elite. However, both Ayton and Smart are better than what Lakers had before them.

It will be interesting to see, what happens next season, though. It will be tough to keep guys around and bring better players in. There will be no expiring deals to trade.

[KillerLeft]

Good move for the Lakers. They are patching holes they need to patch without giving up any assets. Of course it is difficult to expect that guys that other teams rather buy out than keep will be elite. However, both Ayton and Smart are better than what Lakers had before them.

It will be interesting to see, what happens next season, though. It will be tough to keep guys around and bring better players in. There will be no expiring deals to trade.

Doesn't it feel like the Lakers are in almost exactly the same position the Mavs were in towards the end of Carlisle's time, as Kidd was taking over? We were saying the same things...gotta find talent without using assets. I imagine that's frustrating for Luka (and for you, I'd think).

[SleepingHero]

@AnthonyIrwinLA
I'm told the Lakers are working on some kind of consolidation trade before tomorrow's deadline with Milton. Ideally, they trim down the roster and avoid needing to waive Goodwin but, if that reported number is correct and they don't find a trade, he'll need to go.

[SleepingHero]

Doesn't it feel like the Lakers are in almost exactly the same position the Mavs were in towards the end of Carlisle's time, as Kidd was taking over? We were saying the same things...gotta find talent without using assets. I imagine that's frustrating for Luka (and for you, I'd think).

It’s actually pretty funny you say that. It does look and feel the same. Only difference is that the Lakers are the Lakers and always somehow get guys at a better value than other teams.

It took the Mavs tanking 1 year and 4 crazy trades to retool and become mega competitive. 

The Lakers then should only take 1 tanking year and 2 crazy trades because of their buff.

[omahen]

Doesn't it feel like the Lakers are in almost exactly the same position the Mavs were in towards the end of Carlisle's time, as Kidd was taking over? We were saying the same things...gotta find talent without using assets. I imagine that's frustrating for Luka (and for you, I'd think).

Of course I am frustrated to an extent that Luka was traded to a team that will have a real hard time building a team around him, due to their lack of assets. Mavs needed 5 years to get a decent center next to Luka. Two seasons Mavs were able to put good (but not elite) wings around him and once they made it to WCF (DFS and Bullock were great that season) and once to the finals (PJ, DJJ). The needs to build a team around Luka are pretty obvious by now. A secondary creator, a good center and athletic wings. Lakers really had almost none of that when Luka was traded - no center and 40 year old LeBron the only guy that could pass as athletic. 

I never thought Lakers would be a serious contender this season. I think they did a great job, though. They didn't waste their few assets on some mediocre solutions (Claxton was often mentioned as a possible target, for example). I think the moves they made are just as good as any player they would have potentially traded for with their few assets. I often said, that it is not really about this season, but about the season after this one. They will have to show some serious moves before next season starts. I am happy, they have plenty of flexibility and they will have 3 FRP to trade. I am expecting far different moves next season. Of course it would not hurt if Ayton and/or Smart play well and they are able to resign them (without bird rights) next season.

[omahen]

@AnthonyIrwinLA
I'm told the Lakers are working on some kind of consolidation trade before tomorrow's deadline with Milton. Ideally, they trim down the roster and avoid needing to waive Goodwin but, if that reported number is correct and they don't find a trade, he'll need to go.

??? Consolidation trade with Milton doesn't do anything for Lakers. Milton is not guaranteed, has probably zero value and most likely result is he gets waived. His salary would only make sense in a trade where this kind of minor salary would be needed to make numbers work - this would more likely mean Lakers would be getting more money back in such a trade - not a favorable outcome for the need to free up the BaE. 

Consolidation trade would be someone like Knecht, Maxi or Vincent. If Lakers cut Milton and trade either of those guys with getting at least some 3 mil salary less, they create the necessary space. It shouldn't cost much to dump either of those guys.

[Chicagojk]

Can't complain with it at that price. Also, if Luka wanted him and they don't need to give up anything. Interesting player. Boston loved him and at times hated him. Winning player when he fits into a low usage role. That is an issue though.

I found it strange that he played so poorly in Memphis. They tend to get the best out of players. There was one game against the Mavs that I swore he bet on the Mavs. It was so bad. He wasn't very good in Washington, but not sure i hold that against him. One negative in watching the highlights is he looks very stiff. That is a bad sign for an NBA player.

Still though, there is upside there with little risk...besides the roster spot.

[omahen]

Doesn't it feel like the Lakers are in almost exactly the same position the Mavs were in towards the end of Carlisle's time, as Kidd was taking over? We were saying the same things...gotta find talent without using assets. I imagine that's frustrating for Luka (and for you, I'd think).

Also, I think the Lakers situation this season is much different than Mavs situation in first Luka years. Remember first offseason? They had Luka and traded for KP at TDL. They had max cap space. Their target was Kemba, who decided to sign for someone else (I don't remember who, was it Boston?): Mavs finished the season without doing anything with that cap space, but rather operate over the cap and signed Delon Wright as "next best player". Than we had another season with max cap space and Mavs result was giving a huge deal to THJ after failing to get Lowry. Somewhere in there was also that Danny Green fiasco.

I don't think this Lakers offseason is anywhere comparable to those. I think they are getting the best out of a season where they didn't have any cap space and very few tradeable assets. They are basically executing their plan A or B, not their plan Z. I think expectations that they would make some earth shattering moves with what they had were unrealistic. Of course, they can still utilize that FRP and pick swaps, if something right materializes. It is very obvious, it has not so far.