The Los Angeles Lakers made a significant statement over the weekend, adding veteran guard Marcus Smart in free agency after his buyout from the Washington Wizards. The deal, reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, is worth $11 million over two years and brings the Lakers a much-needed point-of-attack defender, vocal leader, and former NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Smart’s arrival injects a level of defensive toughness and championship experience the Lakers were sorely missing last season. It also marks a possible shift in the organization’s strategy toward grit over glamour—a tone new head coach JJ Redick has quietly emphasized since his hiring.
The Price of Addition: Roster Moves Loom
To make room for Smart, the Lakers are expected to waive guard Shake Milton, who was acquired at last season’s trade deadline but struggled to make an impact in limited minutes under Redick.
“The Lakers plan to waive guard Shake Milton to create the roster spot to sign Smart,” Charania reported. “Milton’s $3 million contract for next season would have become fully guaranteed Sunday.”
While the front office reportedly explored trading Milton, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel, no viable deals materialized by the deadline. Milton is expected to draw interest from other teams now that he’s an unrestricted free agent.
But waiving Milton won’t be the Lakers’ final move. In order to stay under the NBA’s first tax apron and officially sign Smart to the agreed contract, the team will need to make at least one more roster adjustment.
Jordan Goodwin in Limbo
That brings attention to Jordan Goodwin, a 26-year-old guard who impressed in a late-season stint with the Lakers. Goodwin averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals while shooting 38.2% from three in just under 19 minutes per game. His defensive intensity and rebounding from the guard position made him a fan favorite and a potential developmental piece.
Waiving Goodwin would free up the necessary cap space, but the Lakers are reportedly hesitant.
Trade Winds Picking Up
Instead, Los Angeles is exploring a consolidation trade, per ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin, in an attempt to clear salary and roster space while returning a 3-and-D wing—a premium need on a team built around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Such a deal would allow the Lakers to retain promising players like Goodwin while addressing multiple needs in one transaction. The challenge, however, lies in finding a willing trade partner.
“Ideally, L.A. would pull off a trade that would save it some money and clear a roster spot while bringing in a 3-and-D wing,” Irwin wrote. “But doing so won’t be easy, especially if other teams around the league are dead-set against helping L.A. win its 18th NBA championship.”
A Sign of the Times?
The Smart addition may ultimately be remembered as more than just a smart mid-summer pickup. It could be the clearest indication yet that the Lakers are subtly transitioning away from the LeBron-centric era and toward a more balanced, defense-first roster.
According to league sources, Luka Dončić—long rumored to be interested in Los Angeles—has been quietly recruiting potential teammates behind the scenes, a development that has not gone unnoticed within league circles. For a front office that has long been tethered to LeBron’s timeline, this offseason’s moves—marked by pragmatism and youth retention—may signal a willingness to plan beyond the King’s final chapters.
One thing is clear: Marcus Smart may be the first domino, but he won’t be the last