The Los Angeles Lakers continued reconfiguring their roster around superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James on Saturday, agreeing to terms with recently bought-out veteran guard Marcus Smart. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, the move fills a glaring need for the aspiring Western Conference contender and takes its offseason grade to another level.
LA had already been active in free agency entering Saturday, signing center Deandre Ayton and forward Jake LaRavia to bolster its frontcourt. While Ayton is expected to provide a much-needed starting-caliber interior presence, questions lingered about the team’s perimeter defense, with two-way forward Dorian Finney-Smith departing for the Houston Rockets.
However, Smart, who reportedly plans to sign a two-year, $11 million deal upon clearing waivers, could drastically alter the Purple and Gold’s outlook.
Jovan Buha Praises Lakers’ Bargain Marcus Smart Signing, Emphasizing Defensive Upside
On Sunday, Buha reacted to Smart heading to LA and broke down how it impacts the franchise’s offseason evaluation. The team insider was extremely bullish on the move, both from a financial and on-court perspective.
“This, to me, elevates — I’ve been talking about their offseason being a B or B-plus — for me, this elevates it to an A-minus,” Buha said (timestamp: 0:49).
“And if you look at what they were able to turn the non-taxpayer MLE and bi-annual exception into with Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart, I think those are all just incredible values, respective to the players at similar price points in free agency. Also, fits a real need, and those are the two top-line takeaways with Marcus Smart, for me, it’s value and it’s fit,” he added.
The analyst continued raving about how seamlessly Smart should integrate into the Lakers’ Dončić-led backcourt, which lacked a proven defensive stopper.
“The Lakers desperately needed a good-to-elite perimeter defender. I think he checks that box,” Buha said. “I don’t think he’s quite the same level that he was in Boston in 2022 when he won Defensive Player of the Year, but he still grades out very well in all advanced metrics defensively.”
Since being traded by the Boston Celtics during the 2023 offseason, Smart has struggled to stay on the court due to injuries. The veteran appeared in only 54 games over the last two years with the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies, dealing with a right finger ailment this past season.
Even so, Smart remains a defensive pest when healthy, seemingly making the decision a no-brainer for LA.
Buha Endorses Smart As Lakers Starter
While speculation has begun about Smart’s potential role with LA, Buha believes the 31-year-old should start alongside Dončić, James, Ayton, and shooting guard Austin Reaves.
Such a three-guard lineup, which would slide forward Rui Hachimura to the bench, would make the Lakers significantly smaller. However, Buha sees the trade-off as worth it, given Smart’s defensive track record.
“If we’re grading players out of 10, I think he’s at least an 8.0 defensively, if not like an 8.5,” Buha said. “I think he steps in and is immediately LA’s best defender. I think he should start.”
Regardless, Lakers coach JJ Redick enters his second season with a far deeper roster after frontcourt shortcomings and defensive woes slowed down LA during its 2025 first-round playoff exit.
