EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Tally an assist for Luka Doncic months before opening night.

Marcus Smart credited Doncic for recruiting him to Los Angeles at his introductory news conference with the Lakers on Tuesday.

"When you get a guy like Luka calling... checking on you, trying to see where you're at, to see if you want to come join something special that he's trying to cook up over here," Smart said. "For him to say that he can really use my help, that meant a lot."

Smart, who cleared waivers after reaching a buyout agreement with the Washington Wizards , signed a two-year, $11 million deal with the Lakers, sources previously told ESPN. L.A. waived guards Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin to have access to the biannual exception to sign Smart, 31, for more than the veteran's minimum

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