Former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart is coming to the Lakers, and Luka Doncic was reportedly involved.

At the start of the 2025 offseason, Rob Pelinka was under heavy fire. The Lakers had just been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Dorian Finney-Smith, their best perimeter defender and an elite two-way wing, left in free agency.

A top trade candidate this offseason came off the board on Saturday when the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to sign former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to a two-year, $11 million deal following his buyout by the Washington Wizards,

One NBA writer proposed a trade that would give the Lakers a player who could plug one of their biggest needs right now.

With Luka Doncic established as the face of the Lakers alongside LeBron James, the team is eyeing one last wave of buyouts, trades, and free-agent moves.