In his postgame press conference, Doncic highlighted the defensive energy and impact of Bronny James and veteran Marcus Smart. Speaking about Bronny, Luka said:

“He was great. In those kinds of moments, you never know if you’re gonna play or not. He was ready, and that means a lot to us, and he was ready to go at the right moment. So he played great today, he was great defensively. And we expect him to do that, and it was amazing.”

Bronny played a season-high 18 minutes, including a key stretch in the fourth quarter as head coach JJ Redick trusted the 21-year-old to help close the game. He finished with two points, two assists, and three steals, and his defensive intensity drew praise from fans and teammates alike.

Praise also goes to Marcus Smart

While Bronny’s rise was one of the night’s storylines, Doncic also reserved special praise for Marcus Smart, the Lakers’ defensive anchor. “It’s unbelievable impact. I play against this guy a lot. He was always guarding me, so I know how I feel for the other team. So I’m glad he’s on my team, and the impact he has, it’s unbelievable. He’s been hustling every game, every moment, every minute, every second, so props to him.”

Smart delivered another gritty all-around performance, finishing with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block. His defensive instincts and vocal leadership continue to define the Lakers’ identity, especially in LeBron James’ ongoing absence.

Smart’s numbers

Through seven NBA games, Smart is averaging 9.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27 minutes per contest, proving that his value extends far beyond the box score.

According to the latest NBA injury report, the Lakers have ruled out Smart, who is dealing with a right quad contusion sustained during the win against the Kings, Meanwhile, big man Hayes suffered left patellar tendinopathy following the season-opening loss to the Warriors, but is available to play tonight.

The team’s injury report still lists several players as officially ruled out: Luka Doncic (left finger sprain and leg contusion), LeBron James (right sciatica), Maxi Kleber (abdominal muscle strain), Gabe Vincent (left ankle sprain), and Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery), and now Smart is joining that long list.

Since his debut, Smart has played in three of the Lakers’ four contests, where he has averaged 7.7 points, 1.0 rebound, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steal while shooting 43.8 percent from the field. Hayes, on the other hand, only played in the opener against the Warriors, registering four points, six rebounds, and one assist while shooting 66.7 percent from the floor.

Impact of Smart and Hayes’ potential return

Following the loss to the Blazers, Lakers Coach JJ Redick stressed the difficulty of running the offense efficiently without primary ball handlers, citing the simultaneous absences of Doncic and James.

This situation forced Austin Reaves to take over both roles. Reaves responded by leading the offense and logging a huge scoring night—41 points, along with four rebounds and five assists—a heroic effort that ultimately wasn’t enough to secure the win.

The return of Smart would have been a necessary lift for the Lakers to take some workload off Reaves, but ultimately, it will not happen in tonight’s contest against the Timberwolves.

As for Hayes, his return would provide a significant boost at the center position, offering a quality backup option for Deandre Ayton, who posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in the defeat to the Blazers.

The 31-year-old guard was formally presented in Los Angeles and discussed what he expects from this new chapter in his career. “I think we can compete,” he said, according to ESPN. “Our ceiling is high. I think there’s no ceiling. I think if we all lock in and come and do what we’re supposed to do, we can have a real good shot at it.”

However, Smart admitted that not everyone will be happy to see him wearing the purple and gold—particularly fans of the Boston Celtics. When asked how he expects them to react to seeing him in a Lakers jersey on opening night, he was blunt: “I can definitely say that I’m expecting a lot of boos, I’m expecting a lot of hate. And it’s OK, I understand it.”

Marcus spent the majority of his career with the Celtics, who selected him with the 6th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He remained there for nearly a decade before being traded to Memphis in the summer of 2023. After an underwhelming year and a half with the Grizzlies, and a brief stint with the Washington Wizards, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year is hoping this next stop marks the beginning of something special.

“I’m very motivated,” Smart said. “The last two years for me was, in my eyes, a disappointment. Injuries kind of stopped me and held me back.” Indeed, he appeared in just 20 of 82 games during his first year in Memphis, and only played 34 games total last season between the Grizzlies and the Wizards.

Smart reflects on playing for the Lakers

Back in 2014, the Lakers considered selecting Smart in the NBA Draft, but ultimately chose Julius Randle with the 7th pick. “Like I told my wife and my family, everything happens for a reason. And it’s funny that 12 years ago, I could have been here and now it’s full circle and I’m here,” Marcus reflected.

As for his goals this season, the guard was clear. “Just to be me,” he said. “Come in and do what I do and that’s a tenacious defender, just bringing the intensity that I bring, my leadership, my basketball IQ, as well. But just being the pest that I’ve always been.”

The Celtics–Lakers rivalry

When Marcus Smart mentions the boos and hate from Boston fans, he’s referencing the storied rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics—arguably the most iconic in NBA history. These are the two most decorated franchises in the league, with a rich history of NBA Finals matchups spanning decades.

From Boston’s dominance in the 1960s led by Bill Russell, to the 1980s when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird revolutionized the league, and more recently the 2008 and 2010 Finals, each era has added a new layer to the Celtics–Lakers rivalry.

“I’m likewise told that Smart (like Doncic) has been working hard on his body this summer. Conditioning was an undeniable issue for Smart last season, but the Lakers were convinced during their pursuit that they would see a sleeker version of the 2021-22 DPOY,” Stein Line reported.

Although Smart is typically a dedicated and talented player, injuries have hindered his availability. As a consecuence, he could only play 34 games in the 2024-25 NBA season. If he can regain his physical consistency, Smart could once again deliver significant defensive contributions. With that, the roster will be provided the stability the team seeks on both ends of the court.

With this physical transformation, Lakers fans hope to see Marcus return to his Boston Celtics form, not the version from the Memphis Grizzlies or Washington Wizards, where he disappointed fans. His relatively low contract and free agency status make his addition a necessary risk for the Lakers. After the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, who anchored the defense, the team needs to address its defensive challenges, a profile that Marcus could deliver being in shape.

Not only are Luka and Marcus reportedly improving their physical condition, but Jarred Vanderbilt is also making significant strides. Since arriving in Los Angeles, he has struggled to play more than 40 games per season due to knee problems. However, Marc Stein reported that he has found a better physical condition. With that, he is raising expectations as a key addition alongside Smart to restore the team’s defensive stability.

Although fans continue to call for Rob Pelinka to bolster the team’s bench, the best news for JJ Redick and the Lakers would be maintaining a healthy roster. This scenario presents them with a potent starting five and several capable role players. However, they need contributions from players like Bronny James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxon Hayes, who must step up and provide much more off the bench.

As is often the case in the business side of basketball, roster moves come with collateral damage. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers waived Shake Milton—whose $3 million contract would have become fully guaranteed today—to make room for Smart. The decision saves the franchise money while bringing in a more impactful player in Smart, who offers championship experience and elite defensive pedigree.

According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, the Lakers already have a timeline for making the deal official. “Because of the timing of when he was waived (after 4 p.m. CT today), Smart will officially clear waivers at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday and then be eligible to sign with the Lakers,” Buha reported.

Smart split last season between the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, averaging 9.0 points, 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. At 30 years old, his production has dipped slightly, but context matters—nobody on the Wizards had a standout season. This move presents Smart with a chance at redemption and an opportunity to prove he still belongs among the league’s elite defenders.

The Lakers have been in need of a tough-minded defender since losing Dorian Finney-Smith earlier this summer, and Smart checks every box. The 2021–22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year became the first point guard to win the honor since Gary Payton in 1996. He’s also earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors three times.

There’s no question that Smart is a valuable signing for the Lakers, particularly considering their defensive shortcomings. His presence could also help silence some of the criticism aimed at Luka Doncic regarding his defense, easing that burden on the team’s new co-star.

What remains to be seen is how head coach JJ Redick will structure the rotation to maximize Smart’s impact. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, the Lakers appear committed to giving James, Doncic, and now Smart the tools to make a serious run at the 2025-26 NBA championship.

“I love Marcus (Smart), and I think, you know, he’s like, if I’m picking a basketball team, I want him on my team. He gets under guys’ skin. He competes. There’s a level of flopping to the Marcus Smart experience, but I think that overshadows all the other amazing stuff he does. He’s a guy that just makes winning plays consistently,” JJ Redick said on 2021, via The Young Man and The Three.

Marcus Smart, while a formidable defensive talent, has not been at his best lately. Over the past two seasons, injuries have restricted him to just 54 NBA games, making his physical health a pressing concern. Yet, there’s optimism when looking at Luka Doncic, who faced similar issues but has remained free of major injuries. If JJ Redick can recover and maintain his health, he could be a significant asset to the team.

JJ Redick’s team has established itself as one of the most offensively skilled squads in the league. With star players like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves leading the charge, Marcus’ responsibilities will primarily focus on defense, unlike his previous teams where he played a significant role on both ends of the court. Furthermore, his veteran experience complements a team eager to enhance its postseason success.

Lakers reportedly make bold cap move to secure Marcus Smart in major free agency push

Although the Los Angeles Lakers and Marcus Smart have reportedly reached an agreement, the franchise has yet to officially introduce him. Reports suggest they aim to clear a higher salary cap hit to facilitate the enrollment of the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year. To achieve this goal, the Lakers are considering parting ways with one of their current players.

According to Shams Charania’s report on ESPN, the Lakers have decided to release Shake Milton, who struggled to secure a consistent role within the team, despite appearing in 30 games in the middle of the season. His playing time remained limited, leading to his relegation to a secondary role. Consequently, the Lakers have opted to pay the remaining $3 million of his contract, thus creating the necessary salary space.

The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to upgrade their roster. One of their latest moves was to bring one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA like Marcus Smart. However, this is a business, which means collateral damage will happen at times. In this case, a player who was set to make $3 million was waived in order to make room for Smart.

This was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, who also stated that Shake Milton’s contract would have become fully guaranteed today. The Lakers will save that money by doing this last minute change. Smart will add more experience and is a former Defensive Player of the Year, so he is a more valuable assett than Milton.

Smart spent the last season playing on Memphis and Washington. He averaged 9.0 points per game, 3.2 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals. At 30 years old, Smart might be in the twilight of his career and his stats have declined a bit, but to be fair, no one in Washington was having a great year. It’s a chance at redemption for Smart and to prove he still belongs at a top level.

Smart’s defense and grind are his biggest strengths

For some moments, the Lakers’ biggest weakness was their defense. LeBron James is not a lockdown defender and Luka Doncic’s biggest flaw is also defending. Having Smart as part of the rotation will allow the Lakers to take care of the opponent’s biggest perimeter threat.

The defense and effort are not always measurable stats in the NBA. Of course, you can see rebounding and steals on the stat sheet, but there are intangibles that make Smart a much better player beyond what his stats say.

The Lakers are ring or bust

Having LeBron James will always put the spotlight on you. Pairing him with superstar Luka Doncic will set the highest expectation there is: you need to win the NBA championship.

Last year, the Lakers suffered an embarrassing elimination in the first round as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat them in 5 games. This is unacceptable for a team having two of the best players in the league. So now, Smart must help them fulfill its potential with a successful playoff run.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers have agreed to a deal with Smart, who was recently bought out by the Wizards. The 30-year-old guard will sign a two-year, $11 million contract once he clears waivers. A three-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, Smart brings leadership, toughness, and two-way versatility to a Lakers team looking to return to championship form.

Smart’s arrival offers head coach JJ Redick more flexibility in the backcourt and could provide valuable defensive support for a roster that now features elite playmakers in James and Doncic.

Lakers’ projected lineup

Marcus Smart’s natural position is at point guard or shooting guard, which suggests he likely won’t start for the Los Angeles Lakers this upcoming season. Instead, expectations are that he’ll serve as a high-energy reserve—offering fresh legs and defensive intensity when Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves are off the floor. Smart appears poised to take on the sixth man role, anchoring the second unit and giving the Lakers valuable backcourt depth.

Here’s a projected starting lineup for the Lakers heading into the 2025–26 NBA season:

• Point Guard: Luka Doncic / Marcus Smart
• Shooting Guard: Austin Reaves / Marcus Smart
• Small Forward: LeBron James
• Power Forward: Rui Hachimura
• Center: Deandre Ayton

What can the Lakers expect from Smart?

The Lakers have been in need of a defensive-minded contributor since losing Dorian Finney-Smith earlier this summer—and that’s exactly where Smart fits in. The 2021–22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Smart became the first guard to win the award since Gary Payton in 1996. He’s also been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times throughout his career.

Celtics fans may need time to adjust to seeing the former Boston cornerstone in purple and gold. But for the Lakers, this is a strategic addition to balance their star-heavy roster with grit and defensive IQ.

Smart was expected to bring veteran leadership to the Washington Wizards, but injuries limited him to just 39 total games over one and a half seasons in Memphis before being moved at last season’s trade deadline. That deal ultimately served as a salary dump, and Smart never quite found his footing with the Wizards.

Despite recent struggles, Smart brings a wealth of postseason experience. He reached the playoffs in each of his first nine seasons with the Celtics, including multiple trips to the Eastern Conference Finals and a run to the 2022 NBA Finals. After back-to-back seasons without postseason action, Smart now has the opportunity to reassert his value with a Lakers squad ready to compete at the highest level.

“Per a source, the Knicks are monitoring the situation with Marcus Smart,” New York Basketball reported Thursday via their X account. If this move progresses, it would mark the third addition to the squad under new head coach Mike Brown, who was recently hired to replace Tom Thibodeau.

So far, New York has added two players to the roster for the upcoming season. Guerschon Yabusele joined as a free agent after a stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, while Jordan Clarkson signed a one-year deal after parting ways with the Utah Jazz through a buyout agreement.

Smart played the final stretch of the regular season with the Washington Wizards after being traded from the Memphis Grizzlies in February. Across both teams during the 2024-25 season, he appeared in 34 games, starting in only 7 of them.

For the guard, the chance to join the Knicks could be appealing. While it’s unlikely that his role would be significantly bigger than it was on his previous teams, he would at least have the opportunity to contribute to a squad that enters the season with high expectations to replicate last year’s success.

Marcus has played both point guard and shooting guard throughout his career, and in those positions, Mike Brown has a deep rotation of talent. Jalen Brunson will obviously be the team’s focal point in the backcourt, with Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and OG Anunoby also playing major roles. Other options include Delon Wright, Jordan Clarkson, Cameron Payne, Miles McBride, Tyler Kolek, and Landry Shamet.

At 31 years old, Smart is clearly past the peak of his career, but the experience he has gained over a decade in the NBA makes him an intriguing option for the Knicks. His best years came with the Boston Celtics from 2014 to 2023, where he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. He was later traded to Memphis and then to Washington, where his role was limited.

However, the Knicks aren’t the only team interested in Smart. A few days ago, NBA insider Anthony Irwin reported that the Lakers were also considering Smart as a potential addition to their roster. That list reportedly includes other guards such as Portland Trail Blazers’ Matisse Thybulle and Chicago Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu.

In a recent interview with ClutchPoints, Smart offered high praise for Doncic, expressing his admiration for the strides the 25-year-old has made. “I actually had the opportunity to play against Luka when he was 16,” Smart recalled, shedding light on an early encounter with the future NBA star. “We went to Milan and he was on the Milan team. You know, at the time, you see him, he’s a 16-year-old kid. Doesn’t look how he looks now. You see him now, it’s like that’s not the same 16-year-old kid.”

Smart continued to reflect on Doncic’s development over the years, particularly since his arrival in the NBA. “Luka is a great player, we all know that. We all know what he has been doing and can do in this league. His progression… He’s taking even bigger steps… Oh man, just the way he’s come and demanded the league,” Smart added.

Smart highlights Kyrie Irving’s impact

While Marcus Smart primarily focused on Doncic, he also spoke about Kyrie Irving, another crucial figure for the Mavericks. Having faced Irving numerous times over the past decade, Smart is well-acquainted with his impact on the court.

“Nobody was expecting them to do what they did in the fashion that they did it. Kai came in and was a part of that process to get them there,” Smart explained. “Obviously you got Luka and those other guys, but to have Kai there is just a big advantage for them to help them get over that hump and get them to the next level… They didn’t win, but they got there. They figured out what it takes.”

The Mavericks reload for another championship push

After their strong 2023-24 campaign, the Dallas Mavericks have retooled and are prepared to contend once again. With Doncic and Irving leading the charge, and the offseason addition of Golden State’s Klay Thompson, the team looks poised for a deep playoff run. Combine that with rising stars like Dereck Lively, and fans have every reason to be excited for the upcoming season.

The Grizzlies have struggled with some attitude issues over the past couple of years. Smart comes with a playoff pedigree and is known for being a glue guy and someone who won’t hesitate to get on his teammates’ faces to address the team’s issues.

When asked about this new path in his career, Smart seemingly took a shot at the Boston Celtics, who traded him to land Kristaps Porzingis. Even so, he’s also excited about this new opportunity.

“You always want to be where you’re wanted, and another team’s trash is another team’s gold. So I’m glad to be here,” Smart told Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “I’m glad to be on an organization that wants me and sees me (have) great value. So I’m ecstatic and I’m ready to get going.”

Celtics Lied To Smart About The Trade

Smart admitted that he knew he was going to be traded eventually, especially after being tangled up in trade rumors for so long. However, he didn’t appreciate the fact that the Celtics lied to him about his situation, as he even found out about his trade on social media:

“If I’m being quite frank, I knew I would be traded eventually,” Smart said. “Just figured it would be the next season, just based off my contract and with the new CBA. We already knew that. But it was just the way it happened. I was told everything was good after asking multiple times. Like, ‘I’m hearing (rumors), what’s going on?’ And they’re like, ‘No, you’re good, you’re good, you’re good.’ And then when I do hear about the trade, it’s from Shams (Charania) on Twitter before I hear from the team.”

He’s Not Ja’s Mentor

Beyond his obvious impact on the court, some expect Smart to try and be Ja Morant’s mentor. Morant’s off-court behavior has been a talking point in NBA circles for quite a while, as there are serious concerns about how he could derail his career.

Nonetheless, despite his reputation, leadership, and experience, Smart made it loud and clear that he’s not there to babysit Ja or be the one who’s going to make him change his habits:

“Everybody keeps thinking I’m here to help Ja with off-the-court stuff and to babysit Ja. That’s not even the case. That’s far from it,” Smart said. “Ja’s a human being, just like everybody else. Ja made a mistake. Ja’s paying the consequences for his mistake, and he’s taking the necessary actions to render those mistakes and come back with a clean slate. That’s all we can ask for.”

The Grizzlies are an up-and-coming team, and all young squads need veterans. They now have one that’s tailor-made for their grit-and-grind culture, and he’s going to be a fan favorite in no time.