Marcus Smart and the Wizards agreed to a buyout this summer, paving the way for him to sign a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The regular season hasn't even started yet, but the primary concern about signing Smart is already an issue.
Smart didn't practice during the first week of training camp and missed the Lakers' first two preseason games with Achilles tendinopathy. When he was able to practice again, he missed a day of practice with flu-like symptoms. Smart was a full participant in practice on Thursday, but he isn't sure if he'll play in LA's next preseason game on Sunday against Golden State.
Marcus Smart said he plans to take things “day-by-day” with his Achilles tendinopathy. He plans on playing in the preseason but isn’t sure if he’ll be available on Sunday yet.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 9, 2025
The Celtics traded Smart to the Grizzlies in the 2023 offseason as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. He played only 20 games in his first season in Memphis, and played 19 in the first half of the 2024-25 season, before the Grizzlies traded him to the Wizards. Smart played 14 games in the second half of the season.
He played a combined 54 games the past two seasons, dealing with ankle, finger, knee, and shoulder injuries. Fans can only hope that this trend won't carry over to his time in Los Angeles.
Will Marcus Smart be able to stay healthy with Lakers?
The Lakers knew that there was a risk in signing Smart, but they needed to boost their perimeter defense after losing Dorian Finney-Smith. Smart's agreement to a buyout with the Wizards, which allowed him to join a contender and gave Washington more room to play its younger players, gave LA a chance to swoop in.
The 31-year-old was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2021-22, which wasn't that long ago, but what's happened since then is what gives fans second thoughts. It's not exactly reassuring that Smart is already missing time, but at least it's happening now, and not during the season. Right?
Hopefully, Smart will be able to play on Sunday, but on the flip side, Los Angeles should want to play it safe with an Achilles injury. The Lakers will have three more preseason games after Sunday's contest that Smart can play in, if he does miss the second Warriors matchup.
Smart isn't the only Lakers player dealing with some sort of injury, but one of many (LeBron James is out for at least three to four weeks). This isn't the start that LA envisioned, but it is what it is.
Smart can make a real impact in LA, so fingers crossed that his health will allow that to happen.