Lakers Guard Marcus Smart Viewed as Leading Free-Agency Target for Rockets
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League insiders expect Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart to decline his $5.4 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency, with the Houston Rockets considered the frontrunner to sign him once the market opens on June 30.
Reporting from The Athletic’s Dan Woike indicates that multiple team and league sources believe Houston is “most likely” to land the 32-year-old guard on a multi-year contract. Smart spent last season in Los Angeles, starting 54 of 62 regular-season games and serving as the club’s most reliable perimeter defender. His impact grew during the 2026 playoffs, where the short-handed Lakers upset the Rockets in the first round.
Additional coverage from NBA reporters Marc Stein and Jake Fischer notes that Houston is preparing a three-year offer worth more annually than Smart’s current option salary, a figure Los Angeles may be unwilling to match. The Rockets are coached by Ime Udoka, who previously worked with Smart during their time together in Boston.
Losing Smart would leave the Lakers searching for defensive help on the wing. Possible alternatives linked to Los Angeles include Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort and Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams—both younger options who could align with the team’s timeline alongside star guard Luka Doncic.
Free agency officially begins Tuesday, and Smart’s decision is expected shortly after the window opens.
Source: LakersNation.com
