In Los Angeles, star power is a given. But grit? Grit is earned.

And that’s exactly what the Lakers are reportedly bringing back to their roster in the form of Marcus Smart — the snarling, floor-diving, pulse-raising veteran guard who’s made a career out of making the plays that don’t show up on stat sheets. 

According to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, Smart is expected to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers following a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards. 

The deal isn’t official yet — not until Smart clears waivers — but barring an unexpected twist, the defensive stalwart is Hollywood-bound. The Lakers are expected to waive guard Shake Milton to clear space, just hours before Milton’s $3 million salary for next season would have become fully guaranteed on Sunday. 

If all goes as planned, Marcus Smart — the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree — will once again be playing playoff basketball under the bright lights. This time, with “Lakers” stitched across his chest.

And this time, he’s got Luka Doncic and LeBron James by his side.

Smart’s basketball résumé is as tough as his game. For nine seasons in Boston, he embodied everything the Celtics stood for — heart, hustle, and a deep disdain for anything easy. He was the glue in the locker room, the fire on the court. A floor general who’d take a charge on one end, hit a dagger three on the other, and then bark at a teammate to lock in on defense — all in the same possession.

But in the two seasons since Boston traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies, Smart has floated. Injuries chipped away at his impact. A right finger injury sidelined him for chunks of last season. He appeared in just 54 games over the past two years combined — first in Memphis, then in Washington — and his minutes dipped to a career-low 20 per game.

Still, the league hadn’t forgotten what he’s capable of when healthy. Neither had Luka Doncic.

ESPN is reporting that sources close to the situation said the Lakers’ All-NBA superstar personally reached out to Smart and made it clear: he wanted him in L.A. The call mattered. So did the opportunity. After losing Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rickets in free agency, the Lakers needed another point-of-attack defender. That’s a role that Smart doesn’t just fill, he plugs it up like cement.

In addition to the Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks also reportedly pursed Smart. Even after two down years, Smart was one of the most coveted veteran free agents once buyout talks began. His agent, Jason Glushon, was granted permission to speak with teams, and Smart had productive conversations with each suitor. But the Lakers’ vision — and Luka’s personal recruitment — tipped the scales.

And now, Smart returns to meaningful basketball. His playoff streak, which stretched nine straight seasons before it was snapped in 2023, is all but guaranteed to restart.

In order to make room for Smart, the Lakers are expected to part ways with Shake Milton — a 28-year-old guard whose brief stint in L.A. never quite took off.

Acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a December deal involving Finney-Smith and D’Angelo Russell, Milton logged 30 games and one start in purple and gold. He averaged 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 43.3% shooting. There were flashes, sure, but not enough to carve out a spot in J.J. Redick’s crowded backcourt.

With the July 21 deadline looming for his contract to become fully guaranteed, Milton’s exit clears the path for Smart’s arrival.