Marcus Smart could have stayed in Los Angeles, but the offer from the Lakers was so “disrespectful” that he walked away, signing a deal for even less money with the Houston Rockets. The former Boston star made it clear he was offended by what the Lakers put on the table, a move that speaks volumes about player value and how an organization treats its talent.
The Lakers Lowballed, Smart Walked
Smart’s frustration was palpable. He’d signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with the Lakers the previous offseason, a contract that included a player option. But when it came time to talk a new deal, he felt completely undervalued. “First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didn’t match the way that I played, especially when you see guys who played way worse than I did, the offers they’re getting,” Smart told the Houston Chronicle. It wasn’t just the money either, he said there wasn’t “any security that we wanted that they were willing to do.” Think about that, taking less money, a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Rockets, averaging about $6.2 million per season before hitting free agency in 2028, just to feel appreciated. That’s a huge statement.
LA’s Spending Spree Ignores Its Own
The real kicker here? The Lakers, fresh off LeBron James’ departure, were throwing cash around like it was going out of style. They dropped nearly $480 million over a combined 26 contract years this offseason, signing guys like Austin Reaves to a new four-year deal and landing Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Quentin Grimes. Yet, Smart’s deal wasn’t part of that monstrous chunk. The guy averaged 9.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game last season, and while his play has been down since he left Boston, bouncing between teams since that 2014 draft split, you’d think he’d get a fair shake. For the Lakers to spend that much and still leave a player feeling completely disrespected, it just doesn’t sit right.
Smart, a Dallas-area native, clearly feels valued in Houston. He knows the Rockets gave him “an opportunity to be able to go out and try to get what I’ve earned, and what I’ve been working my tail off to provide for my family is a decent-sized paycheck with obviously years on it, right? Or a big paycheck with less years, but to be able to have that option.” It sounds like new Rockets head coach Ime Udoka gets it too. Udoka said Smart “is everything I’m all about, and vice-versa.” It’s early in the season, but Smart is clearly fired up to prove his worth with the Rockets, ready to show the league what happens when you bet on yourself, even if it means taking less to get the respect you deserve.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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