After the Lakers confirmed the signing of Smart: Details of the two-year salary revealed; may need to cut Milton and Goodwin

On July 20, Beijing time, Smart reached a buyout agreement with the Wizards. The 31-year-old former NBA Defensive Player of the Year plans to join the Lakers after the clearance period.

League sources revealed that Smart will sign a two-year contract with the Lakers using the biannual exception, with a salary of approximately $5.1 million for this season and slightly below $5.4 million for the 2026-27 season. One league source mentioned that the second year of the contract is a player option.

The Wizards acquired Smart from the Memphis Grizzlies in a multi-player trade back in February. Everyone believes that Smart sets a positive example for the young players on the team, particularly in terms of defense.

However, the Wizards wish to honor Smart's desire to play for a championship-contending team while also freeing up more playing time for their numerous perimeter players. These players include Babb-Carleton, Bilal Coulibaly, Keshawn George, AJ Johnson, Tre Johnson, Corey Kispert, and CJ McCollum. By shifting the rotation towards less experienced players, the Wizards are also more likely to approach the bottom of the league standings in the 2025-26 season, thus preserving their protected 2026 first-round draft pick.

After the initial wave of the free agent market, the Lakers turned their attention to Smart. They initially considered DeAnthony Melton to fill the team's need for perimeter defense. League sources later reported that the 27-year-old Melton is in contact with the Golden State Warriors, though he has not signed yet.

Smart was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season and has been selected to the All-Defensive Team three times—besides LeBron James, who has been selected six times, no other player on the Lakers holds such honors.

After signing Ayton and LaRavia in the free agent market, the Lakers are focusing on finding players to upgrade their defense to compensate for the loss of Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets.

League sources state that Doncic communicated with Smart this week, persuading the experienced defender to join the Lakers.Doncic previously helped finalize the contract with Ayton, aiding the team in signing two highly sought-after players in the buyout market.

Although team sources claim that details are still being finalized, one way the Lakers could create enough salary cap space below the first luxury tax line is by cutting Shaq Milton before his contract becomes guaranteed on July 21 (Beijing time) and then releasing guard Jordan Goodwin after Smart's clearance period. Goodwin's contract is partially guaranteed.

Smart spent the first nine years of his career with the Boston Celtics, averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. If this trade goes through, he will join the ranks of notable Celtics players like Rajon Rondo, Rick Fox, and Isaiah Thomas, who joined their Los Angeles rivals later in their careers.

Since being traded from Boston to Memphis in 2022, Smart has only played 54 games. Last season, he missed some time due to an injury to his right index finger.