Lakers Forced to Waive 2 Meaningful Players to Add Marcus Smart

The Los Angeles Lakers grabbed headlines over the weekend by adding former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart on a good contract, but there was also a cost to the move.

Smart’s price, beyond the $10.5 million for the next two years following his buyout from the Washington Wizards, included two players: guards Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton.

“Essentially, Smart will replace Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton, two Lakers guards on non-guaranteed contracts who they will have to waive to make room for Smart under a hard cap at the lower luxury tax apron,” ESPN’s Kevin Pelton reported Saturday, July 20. “(Milton’s $3 million salary was set to guarantee Sunday, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.)”

Jordan Goodwin, Shake Milton Mattered to Lakers in Regular Season, Saw Decreased Usage During Playoffs

GettyFormer Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin.

Neither Goodwn or Milton was essential to what the Lakers did last year. That said, both played meaningful roles off the bench throughout the regular season.

Goodwin played more than 18 minutes per game in 2024-25 and averaged 5.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.o steals. The 26-year-old combo guard was part of multiple speculative trade packages in recent weeks, typically as a salary rounder, though also as contributor of meaningful note. In other words, he has some real value on which the Lakers ultimately weren’t able to capitalize and had to sacrifice in order to bring in Smart.

Milton, 28, is a seven-year veteran who joined the Lakers as part of the Dorian Finney-Smith/D’Angelo Russell deal ahead of the trade deadline. Milton’s role decreased in Los Angeles, though he still saw 11.5 minutes per night across 30 appearances, averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Pelton noted Saturday that L.A. had to scale back each player’s role in the first round of the playoffs. As such, letting two viable assets walk for nothing this summer became worth the cost considering what Smart is more likely to offer the roster over the next couple of seasons, and more importantly postseasons.

“Although Goodwin and Milton played rotation roles at times in the second half of last season, neither could stay on the court as JJ Redick relied more heavily on his starters in the opening round of the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves,” Pelton wrote. “Goodwin played 31 minutes in the series and Milton just four. Given Smart’s history, including 108 career playoff games with the Boston Celtics … he has a better chance of earning Redick’s trust and improving the team’s shaky perimeter depth.”

Luka Doncic Recruited Marcus Smart to Lakers

GettyMarcus Smart, formerly of the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers front office and the top of its roster both recognized the need for the defensive upgrade that Smart offers.

Luka Doncic exemplified as much, as he led the recruiting charge that brought Smart to L.A. over other options.

“Lakers star Luka Doncic made a direct recruiting pitch to Marcus Smart this week that resonated with the veteran guard, league sources tell @TheSteinLine, after Smart’s agent Jason Glushon was granted permission by the [Washington] Wizards to explore potential post-buyout landing spots,” Marc Stein of reported via X.