FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:

There’s a 22-minute video on YouTube of Marcus Smart’s greatest plays as a member of the Boston Celtics, 36 different moments of exactly the kinds of plays the Lakers are hoping he can make now that he’s on their team.

The clips show it all — meeting LeBron James at the rim to block a dunk, sticking a paw in between a Shai-Gilgeous Alexander crossover, fighting off Joel Embiid for a putback, splashing jumpers over Kyrie Irving, beating Giannis Antetokounmpo to a loose ball and ripping a steal out of Franz Wagner’s hands. It’s the resume of a big-time player making big-time plays in big-time games.

It’s just that these big-time games … they kinda happened a long time ago.

LeBron and Kyrie are playing for the Cavs in the video. SGA doesn’t have braids or a headband. Embiid was in a protective facemask (and otherwise healthy). Antetokounmpo was in that phase where he was still trying to harness his athleticism, and so on and so forth — one big play pressed against a reminder of a time in the NBA gone by.

Marcus Smart can make winning plays; he’s shown it. It’s just been a minute.

Tuesday afternoon, he arrived at the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo in a black Cadillac Escalade, greeted by an embrace from Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka. Both men are hopeful there are more moments to be delivered, more possessions to be secured with a dive into the crowd or with a sprawl to the court.

“I still have a lot left in the tank,” Smart said.

Injuries have gotten in the way the past two seasons, with Smart playing only 54 out of a possible 164 games since the Celtics traded him in 2023. Ankle and finger injuries have been the main culprits, but the 31-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year has dealt with shoulder and knee issues, too.

But the Lakers are in position to bet precisely on someone like Smart in this moment, signing him for $5.1 million after Smart secured a buyout with the Washington Wizards. If those past injuries aren’t flukes, if they are just the costs of a career where every loose ball was worth risking it all for, then the Lakers aren’t committed beyond a modest player option for next season.

If they are flukes, the Lakers got a player Luka Dončić specifically wanted to play with.

“When you get a guy like Luka calling, referencing, checking on you, trying to see where you at … to see if you want to come and join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here,” Smart said. “And for him to say that he can really use my help, that meant a lot.”

The Lakers definitely need Smart’s help. The roster lacks the kind of player who could credibly try and stop James or Dončić, the kind of player who can free up Austin Reaves from being the primary defender called upon to slow the best backcourt players the Lakers face.

“Just to be me. Come in and do what I do and that’s a tenacious defender, just bringing the intensity that I bring, my leadership, my basketball IQ as well,” Smart said of his role. “But just being the pest that I’ve always been.”

He’s done it. Deandre Ayton has done the things that made him the No. 1 pick and a starting center in the NBA Finals, too. But both players sacrificed portions of their salary to leave their situations, both having their salaries subsidized by competitors as they try to rebuild their careers with the Lakers.

The Lakers and Pelinka’s summer has hinged on these kinds of bets, that the Lakers’ situation, plus some motivation from being discarded, can answer some of the team’s biggest questions.

With Smart, the proof is there that he can earn wins and that he can do it on a massive stage with expectations in the rafters and a rabid fan base in the seats. Feeling that again was part of the reason he came to Los Angeles.

“It’s at the top. I mean, the main goal, the reason you go out and you compete the way you compete is to try to win championships and what better place to be able to do that than here, where the show starts and where the show ends?” Smart said. “So, that was definitely a big part of it, being able to get back on that stage, being able to get to a team that definitely could use me. And I know I can make an impact and I can help as well and that was a perfect fit here.”

Will it be good enough in the West? Smart thinks it might be.

“I think we stack right up there with the best of them,” Smart said. “And I think we can [compete]. Our ceiling is high. I think there’s no ceiling. I think if we all lock in and come and do what we’re supposed to do, we can have a real good shot at it.”

For it to happen, Smart’s got to be on the court and he’s got to be the version of himself that fills that 22-minute highlight reel. He’s got to torture Steph Curry, frustrate Gilgeous-Alexander, fight with Nikola Jokić for rebounds and beat Anthony Edwards to loose balls.

We know Dončić thinks he can do it. And Tuesday, we got confirmation that Smart believes him.

“I’m very motivated,” he said.

FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:

Jarred Vanderbilt’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers has been largely defined by injuries. The defensive-minded forward is looking to make that sentiment a thing of the past.

In the same report where Marc Stein created excitement for Lakers fans around the diligent work of Marcus Smart to get to his best playing shape since his days with the Boston Celtics, the NBA insider noted the new signing is not the only one working hard on their body. Vanderbilt is too.

Stein wrote, “I’m also hearing Jarred Vanderbilt is healthier now than he was at any point last season, which will naturally spark hope that the versatile forward seems like an offseason addition himself when training camp opens in late September.”

For a Lakers team that was crying out for depth amid their premature exit from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, this development is sure to create excitement. Having the best version of Vanderbilt would go a long way to filling a much-needed role on the roster for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Vanderbilt’s defensive presence would be a massive gift for Lakers

Vanderbilt joined the Lakers during the 2022-23 season as a part of the trade that freed the team from the disappointing Russell Westbrook experiment. The 26-year-old actually remains as the sole survivor of that deal who still resides in Los Angeles.

D’Angelo Russell was sent packing in the trade that brought Dorian Finney-Smith to the Lakers. Malik Beasley was never re-signed after his initial stint with the team, joining the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2023 free agency period.

Vanderbilt’s early sample size with the Lakers was impressive enough to earn him a contract extension with the Lakers pretty quickly. His emergence as a defensive stopper in their rotation secured a four-year, $48 million deal to stay with Los Angeles for the long haul.

Since then, that contract has been the subject of countless numbers of mock trades done by Lakers fans. Vanderbilt’s inability to stay on the court quickly soured the reason for optimism that was offered during the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals in 2023.

Jarred Vanderbilt’s Career Perimeter Isolation Defense grades

2019: DNP enough
2020: DNP enough
2021: A-
2022: A-
2023: A-
2024: A+

— BBall Index (@The_BBall_Index) August 8, 2024
His averages of 4.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game from the 2023 NBA Playoffs do not pop off the page. However, his ability take on tough defensive assignments did.

The Lakers could really use that version of Vanderbilt in 2025-26. Even after adding Smart, who should boost the team defense, JJ Redick’s unit still needs more on that end.

There are certain matchups which a healthy Vanderbilt would be much better suited due to his size and length. A healthy version of the versatile forward would allow some range in those defensive assignments too.

Vanderbilt will never be the player who makes a sizeable contribution on the offensive end. However, at his best, the defense can be something that Los Angeles would greatly desire in the upcoming campaign.

PG: LUKA DONCIC, Marcus Smart, Gabe Vincent
SG: AUSTIN REAVES, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James
SF: JARRED VANDERBILT, Jake LaRavia
PF: LEBRON JAMES, Rui Hachimura, Adou Thiero
CE: DE’ANDRE AYTON, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson Hayes

MacMahon on The Hoop Collective podcast suggested that Smart was “professionally heartbroken” after being traded from Boston to Memphis. That Smart didn’t want to be with the Grizzlies at all. Which may have attributed to the decline in Smart’s game the past two seasons.— The Lakers Review (@TheLakersReview) July 22, 2025

Marcus Smart says Luka reached out to him TWICE and convinced him to sign with LAL, per ESPN.Luka has pull 👀 pic.twitter.com/EFpoxDKNQ4— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) July 22, 2025

Smart said he has been cleared for basketball activities after dealing with a hand injury. He put it at “high 90s” regarding what percent he is when it comes to health.— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) July 22, 2025

Marcus Smart on Luka’s recruitment:When you get a guy like Luka calling checking on you trying to see where you at…seeing if you wanna join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here, saying he could really use my help, it meant a lot.” pic.twitter.com/rKZpTjy1wf— 🏆LakersGuru🏆 (@GuruLakers) July 22, 2025

Rob Pelinka Has Lakers Perfectly Positioned For Championship Run Don’t look now but Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ much maligned president of basketball operations, may have pulled off the best offseason of his front office career and positioned the purple and gold for a championship… pic.twitter.com/g9P9KNrDFX— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 22, 2025

Rob Pelinka Has Lakers Perfectly Positioned For Championship Run Trade for Starting Small Forward Before Season Or Before Deadline?The Lakers under Rob Pelinka have traditionally favored making trades in midseason before the trade deadline, embracing the strategy that this is… pic.twitter.com/B8m2N8qSD2— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 22, 2025

Rob Pelinka Has Lakers Perfectly Positioned For Championship Run Replace LeBron Via Blockbuster Trade or Free Agent Signing?Hoovering over every move Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office makes is the emerging reality that this is almost certainly LeBron James’ final… pic.twitter.com/Dj1J1dEsyE— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 22, 2025

Dean, my response is 'TOO SMALL!' PG: LUKA DONCIC, Marcus Smart, Gabe VincentSG: AUSTIN REAVES, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James SF: JARRED VANDERBILT, Jake LaRaviaPF: LEBRON JAMES, Rui Hachimura, Adou ThieroCE: DE’ANDRE AYTON, Maxi Kleber, Jaxson HayesIf we wait until… https://t.co/g75ZpCDNUi pic.twitter.com/2sGnehwKC5— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 22, 2025

These things don’t exist in a vacuum. Yes, Pelinka made improvements (with the limitations he gave himself to work with) that look good on the surface. But when you look around the conference, other teams have also stepped it up..some more than us. And OKC is only gonna be better with that title run experience in their pocket now.

I like the fact that he held onto our best tradeable assets and resisted the urge to over-reach chasing fool’s gold this season. We have a shot if everything falls perfectly…but thats probably about it.

Also..I don’t see Joker or Giannis hitting free agency; their teams will make a trade instead of just letting them walk..it’s gonna take assets to swing that.

OMG when was this written? It sounds weeks old. Everyone knew Austin would decline it. The Lakers knew he would. They had to offer. Signing that extension made no sense because based on his contract they could only offer him a figure that is much lower than what he can get as a free agent. The Lakers plan to sign him and from everything I’ve read, he wants to stay a Laker.

There is no true trade speculation, just clickbait BS.

Even in his best years on the Celtics, Marcus never guarded threes, just ones and twos. For the last 7 straight years, Marcus Smart has spent over 95% of his minutes defending ones and twos and less than 5% defending threes.This last season, injuries limited both the number… pic.twitter.com/GMDrYZkB1D— LakerTom (@LakerTom) July 22, 2025

Not happening. The Lakers looked at him before they signed Ayton but haven’t had any reported interest since.

Solid 2 way signings, likely only play if other guys are hurt.

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Why Marcus Smart chose Lakers
It was inevitable that the Lakers would make a big move this offseason. Aside from all the drama and rumors surrounding LeBron James, Los Angeles had made it a point of emphasis to find a defensive-minded perimeter player after signing Deandre Ayton and losing Dorian Finney-Smith in free agency. That is why Smart became their top option.

When the Grizzlies traded Smart to the Washington Wizards before the trade deadline in February, the assumption was that the former Defensive Player of the Year would finish his contract with the rebuilding organization, especially since there were no talks of a buyout during the 2024-25 season. The Lakers also inquired about Smart when he was still on the Grizzlies, sources said.

However, Smart had made it clear to the Wizards in recent weeks that he wanted the opportunity to play meaningful basketball for a team in a playoff position. Washington had reached out to a few teams recently about including Smart in a trade, but it became clear there wasn’t a realistic path to trading him.

As a result, the two sides reached a buyout agreement that is about equal to the $5 million he will get in Los Angeles during the 2025-26 season, team sources said. The second year of his new deal in Los Angeles will contain a player option, which allows Smart to become a free agent again next summer.

The main reason Smart chose the Lakers over other teams pursuing him, which included the Bucks and Suns, is because of Luka Doncic. Smart was very interested in joining the Suns, sources said. But when Doncic made a strong pitch to the 31-year-old, he ultimately elected to join the Lakers instead.

To sign Smart, the Lakers decided to waive Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin. The expectation was that the Lakers would waive Milton, regardless of whether they had a deal lined up for Smart or not, but Goodwin was a different story.

Los Angeles truly valued Goodwin’s demeanor and contributions, which is why the team explored trade avenues to free up extra cap space utilizing their expiring contracts over the last week, sources said. Teams knew of Los Angeles’ intentions, and there was not much interest in dealing with the Lakers unless draft picks were involved. No trade ever came close for the Lakers.

Goodwin is now expected to see several playoff-contending teams interested in his services.

Both Ayton and Smart are two players Doncic pinpointed as players he wanted Los Angeles to pursue this offseason. This is now Luka’s team and no longer LeBron’s, which is why there continues to be a lot of buzz about what the future holds for the league’s all-time leading scorer.

LeBron won’t be bought out of his contract, nor does it appear as if he will be traded. Nobody really knows what will happen with James, but there was a growing belief during Summer League that the upcoming 2025-26 season could be it for him. Time will tell what LeBron will decide, as he would make a formal announcement before training camp if this were to be his “farewell season.”

Would have preferred to Waive & Stretch Kleber or just buy him out to losing Goodwin….

Here’s hoping. I’m cool with Smart working his way into shape, to a point, in-season but we need Luka rolling hard out of the gate.