On Saturday, July 19, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that former Boston Celtics fan favorite, Marcus Smart, had agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards. Charania also noted that Smart, 31, plans to sign a two-year $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, meaning he will join his former team's most bitter rivals.

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.

After a relatively quiet offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers intend to sign Marcus Smart to a multiyear deal once he clears waivers.

Smart, however, was someone that the Lakers needed to pitch to come to LA. And to do that, the team turned to Luka Dončić. The new face of the franchise played a big role in recruiting the former Defensive Player of the Year, something originally reported by Shams Charania of ESPN on Sunday afternoon.