Latest news with #contractbuyout
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Marcus Smart will sign with the Lakers after getting a buyout from Wizards, AP source says
LOS ANGELES — Veteran guard Marcus Smart will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after receiving a contract buyout from the Washington Wizards, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Wizards had yet to announce their buyout of Smart. The standout defender and two-way contributor excelled for the rival Boston Celtics for nine seasons before spending the past two years with Memphis and Washington.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: G Marcus Smart agrees to buyout with Wizards, plans to join Lakers
July 20 - Former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Saturday. A three-time first-team all-defense selection, Smart will reportedly ink a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers after clearing waivers. The new contract will include a player option that could allow the guard to enter free agency in 2026. According to ESPN, Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic contacted Smart and expressed his desire to play with the two-way player, who averaged a career-low 20 minutes per game last season, a campaign that was hampered by an injury to a finger on his right shooting hand. Smart was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies prior to the 2023-24 season and played in 19 games before he was again moved to the Wizards (15 games) in February. He averaged 9.0 points and 3.2 assists overall. While injuries have limited Smart to a combined 54 games over the past two seasons, he has proven his value throughout his career. While with the Boston Celtics, Smart was part of postseason-qualifying teams in each of his first nine seasons in the NBA, including when he helped Boston reach the NBA Finals in 2022, the year in which Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year. Since joining the NBA as the No. 6 overall pick in 2014, Smart has averaged 10.6 points on 38.8 percent shooting, including a 32.4 percent clip from 3-point range. Of course, he is mostly known for his defense, as demonstrated by a career average of 1.6 steals per game. He is six steals away from having 1,000 for his career. Per ESPN, the Lakers plan to waive guard Shake Milton to free up a roster spot for Smart. --Field Level Media
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Marcus Smart, Wizards nearing contract buyout, with Lakers as likely destination: Source
Marcus Smart is working on a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards, and the 31-year-old former NBA Defensive Player of the Year would intend to join the Los Angeles Lakers after he clears waivers, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. Smart is entering the final season of his contract with the Wizards and is due to earn a guaranteed salary of $21.6 million. Advertisement The Wizards traded for Smart last season, and he, by all accounts, provided a positive example to the team's younger players, especially on the defensive end. However, the Wizards wanted to honor Smart's desire to play for a contender and clear more playing time for their large number of perimeter players. That group includes Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, A.J. Johnson, Tre Johnson, Corey Kispert and C.J. McCollum.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Beal agrees to Suns contract buyout with Clippers next: reports
Three-time NBA All-Star guard Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout by the Phoenix Suns that opens the door to joining the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. The 32-year-old American was the third overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by Washington and traded to Phoenix in 2023 but struggled in two seasons with the Suns, setting the stage for his departure. After clearing waivers, Beal plans to sign a two-year deal worth $11 million with the Clippers, his agent told ESPN and the Arizona Republic, with a player option for the 2026-27 campaign that could make him a top free agent next year. The Suns had the NBA's most expensive roster last season but finished 36-46 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Beal's buyout marks the latest move to revamp the roster. Phoenix fired Mike Budenholzer as coach in April, replacing him last month with Cleveland assistant coach Jordan Ott. The Suns also traded star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets as part of a seven-team deal earlier this month. Beal battled injuries in his two seasons with the Suns, playing 53 games in each. Last season, Beal averaged 17.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals a game. It was his lowest point-per-game production since the 2014-15 campaign. Beal would join a Clippers lineup that includes guard James Harden, forward Kawhi Leonard and center Brook Lopez. A handful of NBA rivals reportedly made pitches for Beal, whose new club has enough money below the league salary cap to compete in the free agent market for the next two years. js/aks
National Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Bradley Beal agrees to buyout with Phoenix Suns, set to join L.A. Clippers
Three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal and the Phoenix Suns agreed to a buyout on the two years remaining on his contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Article content The person spoke to the AP about Beal's buyout on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been officially announced. Article content Article content The move paves the way for Beal to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Clippers that includes a player option after he clears waivers, ESPN reported. Article content Beal is expected to give back $13.9 million of the $110 million he's owed from the Suns, which allows Phoenix more flexibility as it tries to rebuild its roster. Article content It's been a busy summer for the Suns, which also dealt 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for a package that included Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 overall pick in this year's draft, which the Suns used to select Duke centre Khaman Maluach. Article content The 32-year-old Beal would join a veteran Clippers roster that includes James Harden and Kawhi Leonard. Beal averaged 17.6 points over two disappointing, injury-filled seasons with the Suns. Article content Article content BREAKING: Three-time NBA All-Star Bradley Beal has agreed to a contract buyout with the Phoenix Suns and plans to join the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option after clearing waivers, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports told ESPN. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 16, 2025 Article content Beal averaged a career-high 31.3 points per game during the 2020-21 season for the Washington Wizards, but his production has slowly declined since that point as injuries have taken a toll. He's missed at least 29 regular-season games with various ailments in each of the past four seasons. Article content
