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Lakers free agency prediction is bad news for Luka Doncic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If the Los Angeles Lakers don’t make roster reinforcements that don’t sit well with their star point guard, Luka Doncic, the franchise could be in for a long 2026-27 season.
Retaining Austin Reaves would be a good start, but Los Angeles will likely have to break the bank to do so. Additionally, bringing back a tenacious 6-foot-3 defensive-minded guard whom Doncic recruited last offseason should be another priority.
A recent prediction regarding the subject surely isn't good news for Doncic.
“(Marcus) Smart signed his deal with a player option with the idea that he could get a payday this summer if he played well,” The Athletic’s John Hollinger reported Sunday.
“He did. BORD$ now values him at $11.6 million, so he can confidently test the market. Prediction: Opts out.”
Smart opting out of his $5.3 million player option and seeing what free agency has to offer him would open the door for another franchise to lure him from Los Angeles this summer.
Although Smart wasn’t great offensively with the Lakers this year, he was a defensive menace all year, regularly pestering opposing guards and setting the tone for Los Angeles on that end of the floor.
More importantly, the former Celtics Defensive Player of the Year earned the stamp of approval from Doncic, which should motivate the organization to do what’s required to keep the Doncic-Smart tandem intact.
If not, Doncic will lose one of his favorite and most respected teammates in a disappointing development this offseason.
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