Luka Doncic reportedly helped recruit Smart to the Lakers. In addition, a clip from "The Old Man & the Three" podcast has been unearthed where Lakers coach JJ Redick had some glowing things to say about the former Defensive Player of the Year. In the clip, which is from 2020, Redick said that Smart is the type of player he would want on his team.

And despite some of the reported interest from the Celtics side, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that the Los Angeles Lakers, the team Smart signed with, the Phoenix Suns, and the Milwaukee Bucks were the three teams that seriously pursued him. He didn't add the Celtics, which is a telling sign of where their interest stood.

Former Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards on Saturday and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal wi

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