The arrival of Marcus Smart is a prime example. The former Celtics guard, known for his elite defense and leadership, signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers after being released by the Wizards. Interestingly, Smart turned down a much larger offer from the Phoenix Suns reportedly worth $4.3 billion. Why? Sportskeeda suggests it was due to a call from Luka Doncic.
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Additionally, Marc Stein reports that Luka Doncic personally convinced Smart to join the Lakers’ project. Doncic’s team-first approach, leadership role, and promise of meaningful minutes in Los Angeles tipped the scales.
Smart addresses an urgent need for the Lakers: perimeter defense. His versatility allows him to defend everyone from guards to forwards, and he could slide into the starting lineup alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton.
Doncic’s influence expands
Luka Doncic’s impact didn’t stop there. He also played a major role in recruiting Ayton, another addition that bolsters the Lakers’ interior game without the team spending any trade assets. Combined, both signings cost the Lakers just $13 million—a steal given the players’ potential.
Through these moves, the Lakers have addressed three fundamental issues: perimeter defense, interior presence, and rotation depth. They’ve done it without mortgaging their future or disrupting salary structure. Fans are beginning to feel excited about a deeper, more versatile Lakers roster compared to last season.
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Luka Doncic is not only shaping his legacy as a player—he’s emerging as the architect of a new era in Los Angeles. And if Marcus Smart delivers as expected, the Lakers could have a winning formula on their hands.
