NBA fans make their feelings clear on the Lakers' targeting Jrue Holiday even after they acquired Marcus Smart.

“Jordan Goodwin was good last year, and they had to waive him to get Marcus Smart, who’s played like 40 games in the last two years,” Lowe said. “There is a universe, and I’m not saying that we’re going to live in this universe — the Lakers certainly don’t want to — where Jordan Goodwin is as good next season as Marcus Smart. He was good.”

The Washington Wizards are trimming the fat. That’s because buyout agreements with guards Marcus Smart and Blake Wesley have reduced Washington’s cap figure by over $8 million, according to NBA cap insider Keith Smith of Spotrac.

The Los Angeles Lakers currently have 14 players under contract and are just under the first apron threshold, where they are hard-capped, after adding Marcus Smart and waiving both Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin.

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.

However, Charania’s well-respected co-worker, Bobby Marks, wisely pointed out that the Lakers need to clear space if they want to use the $5.1 million bi-annual exception to land Smart. The Lakers took a step in the right direction on Sunday by cutting ties with a recently acquired 6-foot-5 guard.