Marcus Smart in purple and gold? Yeesh.
Amid a summer in which Celtics fans have already endured watching beloved members of the 2024 championship team depart as Boston tries to gets its finances in order, now comes news that Smart, a cherished former Celtic, intends to sign with the rival Los Angeles Lakers after agreeing to a buyout with the Washington Wizards.
It’s been a summer of stomach punches for Celtics fans.
Smart spent nine seasons in Boston and endeared himself here with his full-throttle ways and knack for winning plays. It sometimes felt like Smart might be a Celtic for life before the team made a pair of bold roster moves in the summer of 2023, paving the way to elusive Banner 18.
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Smart becomes the latest former Celtics guard to sign with the Lakers late in his career, joining a group that includes Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, and Isaiah Thomas.
While plenty of photoshops of Smart in Lakers gear popped up with Saturday’s news, there’s an actual photo of Smart in purple and gold from his 2014 pre-draft visit there. The Lakers were slotted a pick behind Boston that year and ultimately selected Julius Randle at No. 7.
The Celtics never missed the playoffs with Smart on the roster. His shot selection could be a bit divisive, but Smart was beloved for his ability to make big-time plays in big moments and his impact in the Boston community.
Smart, who will turn 32 in late October, played just 54 games for the Grizzlies and Wizards since departing Boston. After being dealt to Memphis in the Kristaps Porzingis deal, Smart endured an injury-filled season in Memphis. He was then shipped to the lottery-chasing Wizards in a three-team swap midway through the 2024-25 season.
Smart will earn $26 million in the final year of a four-year, $77 million extension he inked with Boston in 2021. His new deal with the Lakers reportedly is for two years, $11 million.
The Lakers are beefing up around Luka Doncic, even with uncertainty about the future of LeBron James. After enduring a couple of seasons outside the playoff spotlight, Smart ought to be reenergized while joining a Lakers team that will have big goals in a loaded Western Conference.
Smart has played only one game against Boston since his departure, a December 2024 visit with Memphis.
Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard share their thoughts on Marcus Smart’s return to Boston. Smart was traded during the summer of 2023, but was injured when the Grizzlies played at TD Garden last season.
The Celtics have watched Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and (presumably soon) Al Horford depart this summer, all while trying to get off the restrictive second apron. Smart going to the rival Lakers feels like another stomach punch in a summer of swallow-hard moves.
The twice-annual Celtics-Lakers showdowns always have a little extra juice, and seeing Smart in purple and gold will only fuel this season’s matchups.
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