“Jordan Goodwin was good last year, and they had to waive him to get Marcus Smart, who’s played like 40 games in the last two years,” Lowe said. “There is a universe, and I’m not saying that we’re going to live in this universe — the Lakers certainly don’t want to — where Jordan Goodwin is as good next season as Marcus Smart. He was good.”

Veteran guard Marcus Smart has officially cleared the NBA waiver wire after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards, per the RealGM transactions log.

NBA fans make their feelings clear on the Lakers' targeting Jrue Holiday even after they acquired Marcus Smart.

Perhaps the claims that incoming Lakers guard Marcus Smart has declined, especially on defense, have been greatly exaggerated.

In a move first reported by ESPN's Shams Charania on Sunday, Los Angeles waived the guard in an effort to clear financial space to add Marcus Smart. Milton's $3 million contract for the 2025-26 campaign was set to become fully guaranteed on Sunday had the Purple and Gold not moved on from him.

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.

Once Marcus Smart clears waivers following the buyout of his contract with the Washington Wizards, he will be joining the Los Angeles Lakers. He agreed to sign a two-year, $11 million contract with L.

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,