While other teams like the Suns and Bucks reportedly pursued Smart as a free agent, turns out, Luka Doncic helped recruit Smart to Los Angeles. Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doncic "reached out to Smart and made it clear that he wanted to play with the two-way stalwart."

Luka Doncic reached out to newly available guard Marcus Smart, letting it be known that he wants the veteran to join the Los Angeles Lakers, following Smart’s contract buyout agreement with the Washington Wizards,

The Los Angeles Lakers are fully focused on building their future around generational superstar Luka Doncic. After pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks to get him ahead of the trade deadline last year, Doncic has taken over for LeBron James as the team's franchise player.