According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Washington Wizards guard Marcus Smart has agreed with his employers to buyout his contract to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Wizards will now be scouring the free agency market for a talented guard who can partner with veteran star Khris Middleton and the No.2 overall selection in the 2024 NBA draft, Alex Sarr.
BREAKING: Marcus Smart has agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and intends to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, sources tell ESPN. A return to a grand stage for the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/8g9Bxzz11E
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2025
After commencing on June 30, free agency has been filled with blockbuster moves that have seen the Philadelphia 76ers' Eastern Conference rivals mould their rosters to match their ambitions for the upcoming campaign -- including former Sixers star Guerschon Yabusele making a bold switch to the New York Knicks
However, general manager Daryl Morey has had his sights firmly set on re-signing the sharpshooting guard, Quentin Grimes, who was one of the very few saving graces for the 76ers in the previous year. The former Mavericks star averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists over 28 games during his impressive stint in Philadelphia.
Yet, no deal has materialised for Grimes. Could the Wizards pip the Sixers to his signature with an incredibly tempting offer?
Washington could be an ideal suitor for Grimes
The consensus throughout the NBA is that only the 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets would have the ability to match the $25 million per year salary that the 25-year-old is allegedly demanding. Due to the financial restraints that franchises are currently shackled under as a result of the first and second apron, the majority of suitors can only offer around $14 million -- which is reported as this year's non-taxpayer mid-level exception. This is a salary cap exception that allows teams to sign players as long as they remain under the first apron.
That being said, front offices are tactfully creating solutions to these problems by structuring deals that can benefit players in the long term. In Washington's case, the contracts of the recently acquired CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton are set to expire at the end of the 25/26 season, freeing up around $63 million of cap space.
In addition, with the logistics of Smart's contract buyout unconfirmed, the Wizards could potentially present Grimes with more than a one-year, $8.7 million qualifying offer -- which is currently all that the Wizards can reportedly offer.
Even if Washington could only offer the dynamic guard such a small sum of cash compared to his demands, it could still sting the hands of Daryl Morey due to the nature of the slow negotiations -- especially with the salary cap that could be available to the Wizards after this campaign. Sixers fans have already heard Yabusele claim that he did not feel valued after his offer from the 'City of Brotherly Love'; this deal could be heading in a similar devastating direction.
If Quentin Grimes does not return to the 76ers this year, it may not be time to frantically smash the panic button, as their guard depth does suggest the roster can sustain a playoff push in a weakened Eastern Conference. Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and the eventual return of Jared McCain should provide the Sixers with a balanced rotation. The re-signings of veteran duo Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry will also leave head coach Nick Nurse with more options to come off the bench, albeit not exciting ones.