Marcus Smart Joins Rockets, Calls Lakers Offer 'Disrespectful'

Marcus Smart signed a two-year, $12.4 million contract with the Houston Rockets, second year a player option, after telling the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar the Lakers' offer was "disrespectful." The 32-year-old, a 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year under Ime Udoka and three-time All-Defensive first-team pick, opted out of a two-year, $10.5 million Lakers deal. He said Los Angeles offered more total money but not the security or years matching his play compared with lesser performers. He averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 2025-26 and had 21 points and 10 assists in a 112-108 OT Game 3 win over Houston in April with Doncic and Reaves out. At media day Smart said his view from outside was "Damn, this team is scary," and with them it stayed the same: Houston would give teams problems. He cited Texas family ties, no state income tax, and working again with Udoka. The Athletic reported Lakers free-agency deals near $480 million over 26 contract years. Contested: none found. Rockets and Lakers first meet Nov. 30, 2026, in Houston.