The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal with Marcus Smart, the former Defensive Player of the Year, following his buyout from the Washington Wizards. Once he clears waivers, Smart is expected to bring defensive leadership and veteran experience to a team in search of toughness on the perimeter.
However, the move hasn’t been universally praised.
A Controversial Swap
To make room for Smart under the salary cap, the Lakers waived two players: Shake Milton and 26-year-old Jordan Goodwin. Goodwin, in particular, showed promise during the second half of the 2024-25 season. Called up from the G League, he provided energy, defensive hustle, and surprising efficiency from three-point range—shooting 38.2% while averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in under 19 minutes per game.
Despite limited playoff usage, Goodwin earned admiration from within the organization. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reflected on the move during The Lowe Post, voicing concern about the decision to let him go.
“There is a universe… where Jordan Goodwin is as good next season as Marcus Smart,” Lowe said. “Before the playoffs, there was this wonderful story… about the banshee culture with the Lakers and Jordan Goodwin… setting the tone on defense. He was actually a real contributor.”
Lakers Betting on Veteran Leadership
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Management, however, is betting that Smart can recapture the form that made him the league’s top defender in 2022. Although he’s played just 54 games over the past two seasons, Smart’s advanced defensive metrics remain strong, and he’s reportedly spent the summer focused on improving his conditioning.
It’s a move reminiscent of the Lakers’ 2020 championship strategy—bringing in seasoned veterans like Rajon Rondo and Danny Green to flank their stars. The question is whether Smart, now 30, has enough left in the tank to justify the loss of younger, more affordable contributors like Goodwin.
Time will tell if this gamble pays off, or if the Lakers sacrificed too much youth for familiarity and name recognition.