For the second time in three years, the Wizards are involved in a three-way deal with Marcus Smart as one of the pieces – but this time, they’re getting him.
According to Shams Charania, the Wiz are getting Smart and a 2025 first-round pick from Memphis in a three-team deal with the Kings; Washington is also getting Alex Len and Colby Jones from Sacramento, while sending Johnny Davis and Marvin Bagley III to the Grizzlies, and Memphis is also getting a future second-round picks from both teams while sending Jake LaRavia to the Kings.
Smart, a former DPOY, went from Boston to Memphis in the three-team deal with Washington that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Beantown in the summer of 2023, but he has struggled to stay healthy, playing just 39 out of 133 games.
He has one year remaining at just under $21.6 million after this season, so he could be a name to watch at next year’s deadline as well – but for now, when healthy, he gives Washington a lockdown defender and potential scorer in the backcourt.
Len, 31, was the No. 5 overall pick by Phoenix in 2013 and was Washington’s starting center for a spell in 2021 after being acquired from Toronto on waivers, but he has been a low-usage reserve since joining Sacramento – averaging 10.4 minutes in 164 games over the past 3 ½ seasons – and will be a free agent at the end of this season.
Jones, 22, was a second-round pick in 2023 and gives the Wiz another potential young piece, as he has one more guaranteed year plus a team option for 2026-27 at a total of around $4.6 million. He has played sparingly in two seasons with the Kings, averaging six minutes per game in 54 contests.
The deal also says goodbye to Bagley, who was acquired from Detroit last January but has played in just 19 games this season, and Davis, the final first-round pick of the previous regime. Davis bounced between the NBA and G League in his 2 ½ seasons in the organization, this year playing 7.1 minutes per game in 34 games.
Memphis gains some roster flexibility for the future, as both Bagley and Davis will be free agents this offseason (Washington declined Davis’ fourth-year option), and a little financial room this year, as Smart’s salary was about $2.5 million more than Bagley and Davis’ combined and they are out from the remainder of LaRavia’s $3.35 million salary.
Sacramento, meanwhile, also clears a roster spot and gets a little cap room at the expense of a pick.