One of the reasons veteran guard Marcus Smart decided to join the Los Angeles Lakers instead of one of the other teams that wanted him was Luka Doncic. Doncic reportedly communicated with Smart and made it clear he wanted Smart to come to Los Angeles,

Heat Eyeing Warriors’ NBA Champion Defensive Guard After Marcus Smart-Lakers News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Miami Heat have continued to strike out on key free agents throughout the 2025 NBA offseason.

The Luka Doncic trade remains an unbelievable calamity. The Dallas Mavericks gave up on a franchise superstar at 25 years old, despite just coming off a run to the NBA Finals, and gave him to the Los Angeles Lakers basically for free.

Luka Doncic reportedly helped recruit Smart to the Lakers. In addition, a clip from "The Old Man & the Three" podcast has been unearthed where Lakers coach JJ Redick had some glowing things to say about the former Defensive Player of the Year. In the clip, which is from 2020, Redick said that Smart is the type of player he would want on his team.