{"id":25195,"date":"2025-07-21T03:27:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T03:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/25195\/"},"modified":"2025-07-21T03:27:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T03:27:11","slug":"marcus-smart-to-lakers-suns-reportedly-had-interest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/25195\/","title":{"rendered":"Marcus Smart to Lakers, Suns reportedly had interest"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Phoenix Suns reportedly had interest in guard Marcus Smart, who will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after agreeing to a buyout with the Washington Wizards, according to NBA insider Marc Stein<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Milwaukee Bucks were a third team showing \u201cserious interest\u201d in Smart, ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania<\/a> said.<\/p>\n

He ultimately chose the Lakers in part because of a recruiting pitch made by Luka Doncic, according to Stein.<\/p>\n

Smart will sign a two-year, $11 million deal in L.A. with a player option on the second year, per Charania, structured the same as the deal former Suns guard Bradley Beal signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after agreeing to a buyout with Phoenix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Suns\u2019 PG depth remains shallow after missing out on Marcus Smart<\/p>\n

While Smart\u2019s assists per game last season (3.2 over 34 games) were his lowest since his second year in the NBA, it was still higher than anyone currently on the Suns not named Devin Booker (7.1) or Jalen Green (3.4).<\/p>\n

His point of attack defense would\u2019ve been easily the biggest draw anyway, as he is ferocious on smaller ball handlers and capable of guarding up the lineup. He has averaged at least 1.5 steals per game in all but two seasons.<\/p>\n

His skillset fits everything owner Mat Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory have preached about a tough, defensive culture they\u2019re trying to instill in the post-Big 3 era.<\/p>\n

With Phoenix missing out on Smart \u2014 and pending any forthcoming moves \u2014 Collin Gillespie remains the Suns\u2019 only true point guard.<\/p>\n

Gillespie broke through while starring in a fourth-quarter comeback<\/a> against the Clippers. He had 10 points and three assists in fewer than 15 minutes.<\/p>\n

Without that game, he likely doesn\u2019t log at least 15 minutes in 14 of the final 15 games (nine starts). During that stretch, he averaged 8.9 points (41.7% from 3) and 3.6 assists per game.<\/p>\n

Phoenix rosters four shooting guards \u2014 Booker, Green, Grayson Allen and two-way rookie Koby Brea \u2014 while Dillon Brooks and Royce O\u2019Neale are shooting guard-sized wings. It has two open roster spots.<\/p>\n

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