Lakers officially cut ties with 6-foot-3 ex-Defensive Player of the Year recruited by Luka Doncic

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The Los Angeles Lakers have already said goodbye to several assets who were starters or bench contributors on their 2025-26 squad.

A 6-foot-3 former Defensive Player of the Year was among those assets, and on Wednesday, it became official that he wouldn’t compete with the franchise in 2026-27.

“The Los Angeles Lakers have officially renounced the free agent rights to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X/Twitter.

Before Scotto’s tweet, Smart inked a multi-year free agent deal with the Houston Rockets (he declined his $5.4 million player option with the Lakers to become a free agent).

The former Boston Celtics fan favorite was solid with the Lakers during his lone season with the franchise, averaging 9.3 points per game (39.5% field-goal shooting, 33.3% three-point shooting) while providing the organization with the on-ball terrorizing defense they expected when they signed him.

Considering Luka Doncic recruited Smart last summer, it wasn’t surprising to see the Oklahoma State product do right by Doncic by operating as a valuable two-way asset in Year 12.

Unfortunately for Doncic, Smart elected to seek greener pastures after the 2025-26 campaign and ultimately found what he was looking for.

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