NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Waive Shake Milton, Save $3M in Salary Cap for Marcus Smart Contract
Shake Milton's tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Lakers waived the veteran guard on Sunday to create financial room for the recently signed Marcus Smart. Milton's $3 million contract for the 2025-26 season would have become fully guaranteed had the team not acted before the deadline.
This move comes in tandem with Smart agreeing to a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers after securing a buyout from the Washington Wizards. ESPN's Bobby Marks noted that waiving Milton was "step one of two" for the Lakers, who are now approximately $3.9 million below the first apron.
Additionally, the team waived guard Jordan Goodwin on Sunday.
Milton, acquired in a trade that also involved D'Angelo Russell going to the Brooklyn Nets, played 30 games for Los Angeles last season. However, the Lakers opted to bolster their defense and postseason experience by targeting Smart. The former Defensive Player of the Year (2021-22) brings three All-Defensive team selections and 108 career playoff games, including a trip to the 2022 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics.
Milton, meanwhile, has been a journeyman in recent seasons after a promising start with the Philadelphia 76ers. Drafted in the second round in 2018, he averaged 9.3 points and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 36.5% from three over five seasons in Philadelphia. Since then, he's played for the Timberwolves, Pistons, Knicks, Nets, and Lakers. In his limited action with Los Angeles, Milton averaged 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 43.3% shooting from the field and just 29.4% from beyond the arc.
Now a free agent once more, Milton will look for a new opportunity as the Lakers continue to reshape their roster for a more competitive push in the Western Conference.
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