Marcus Smart, after a season where he was a true aggressor for the Lakers alongside LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Luka Doncic, is officially a Houston Rocket. The move went down this summer, with both sides ultimately deciding to go their separate ways despite Smart’s productive stint in Los Angeles.
“The Offer That Was Ultimately Given Didn’t Match”
Smart himself wasn’t quiet about his departure, especially as the new season got closer. He flat out revealed he wasn’t feeling any of the offers the Lakers put on the table. He said, “First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didn’t match the way that I played.” Talk about a player knowing his worth. He even pointed out that he saw other guys who played way worse getting better deals. Plus, he mentioned there wasn’t the security he and his agents, Jason Glushon and Josh Ketroser, were looking for. It’s clear Smart felt undervalued, and who can blame him after stepping up the way he did?
LA Wanted to Go Younger, Smart Heads to Houston
When pressed again on why he didn’t return to the Lakers, Smart spilled a little more, dropping the bombshell that LA actually “wanted to go in a different direction. They wanted to go younger and that’s what they did.” It sounds like the Lakers tried to keep him around, but only on a small deal, and Smart just wasn’t interested in that. Once that bridge was crossed, the Lakers shifted their focus entirely to younger talent. Smart, meanwhile, agreed to a two-year, $13 million deal with the Rockets, which includes a player option for that second season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Now Smart finds himself in Houston, joining Kevin Durant and other stars. The Rockets, under head coach Ime Udoka, pride themselves on defense, which makes Smart a perfect fit for their organizational philosophy. He’s going to slide right into that defensive-minded squad and show LA what they missed out on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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