The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of yet another frustrating offseason, where they didn’t make many moves of note. Fans have been desperately waiting for serious upgrades to help them get back to championship contention, but the Lakers have instead let Dorian Finney-Smith walk and replaced him with Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton.
While Ayton will certainly help the disastrous center rotation in Los Angeles, whether the Lakers actually got better for next season is up for debate. General manager Rob Pelinka has to be aggressive on the trade market to salvage the Lakers’ offseason and give the fanbase some hope ahead of the 2025-26 season.
In one trade scenario, the Lakers try to accomplish just that. LA sends two disappointing veterans in Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Marcus Smart.
There was a recent report by Lakers insider Anthony Irwin about the Lakers’ potential interest in former Celtics guard Marcus Smart. The 31-year-old combo guard is entering the final year of his contract and doesn’t fit in Washington’s crowded backcourt or timeline. The Wizards could even consider buying his contract out and allowing him to sign with a contender.
To make sure they land Smart, however, the Lakers can pursue him via trade, while moving on from two negative contracts. The Wizards could have an interest in Vanderbilt and Vincent as competent veterans whom they can rehabilitate and flip for positive value down the line.
Smart is not the player he was when he was in Boston. He has only played in 54 games over the last two seasons, and he is not the elite defensive stopper he was earlier in his career. But he is an excellent fit next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and provides the Lakers with much-needed physicality and intensity. He is also a rare quality veteran that the Lakers could get without giving up any draft capital.
This way, Los Angeles can save their future first-round picks for upgrades in the frontcourt.
This move is likely not enough to turn the Lakers into title contenders, but it would be a step in the right direction. It’s time Pelinka started taking such steps.
