Report: Luka Doncic has been ‘active recruiter’ to help Lakers sign Smart, Ayton

Heading into this offseason, two of the Los Angeles Lakers’ most glaring needs were a strong point-of-attack defender and starting center.

Los Angeles’ starting backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, while incredibly dynamic offensively, leaves a lot to be desired on the defensive end. Plus, Jaxson Hayes didn’t do a great job serving as the Lakers’ starting center in their first-round series in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.

Fast forward to the current day, and the Lakers have checked both boxes by signing big man Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart to deals in free agency.

According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, Doncic played a part in helping the Lakers land those two players. He’s allegedly been an “active recruiter” for the storied organization this summer.

“Doncic, according to league sources, had communicated his desires for a capable rim-running center, shooting help and defensive support,” Woike wrote. “The Lakers responded by filling those needs with Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and, soon, Marcus Smart.

“In addition to that, league sources said, Doncic has been an active recruiter for the Lakers this summer and helped secure commitments from Ayton and Smart after both unexpectedly hit free agency via contract buyouts.”

Doncic hasn’t even spent a full season with the Lakers, yet he’s already seemingly playing a significant role in the team’s roster moves.

The Lakers traded a package highlighted by big man Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks prior to the February trade deadline in the 2024-25 season in exchange for Doncic, who was a Maverick for the first six-plus seasons of his NBA career.

The additions of Smart and Ayton arguably put the Lakers in a better position to contend for a title than they were in a season ago.

Starting with Smart, he might be the best perimeter defender the Lakers have had since Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was with the franchise, and he’s long been one of the premier defensive players at his position in the league.

Smart has earned three All-Defensive nods during his playing career and won the Defensive Player of the Year award while playing for the Boston Celtics in the 2021-22 campaign.

Ayton, on the other hand, provides the Lakers with a clear upgrade over Hayes. While he has his flaws, he’s averaged a double-double for his pro career, and as a former No. 1 overall pick, his talent is undeniable.

Across 40 contests with the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2024-25 season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 block per game. He also shot 56.6 percent from the field.