Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart is expected to decline his $5.4 million player option for 2026-27 in hopes of negotiating a richer deal to stay in Los Angeles, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Smart, 32, joined the Lakers late in the 2025 offseason after a buyout from the Washington Wizards. He signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract that included the current player option. The veteran quickly became a vocal leader and helped stabilize the roster when injuries sidelined Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Lakers’ limited flexibility
The Lakers hold non-Bird rights on Smart, limiting a first-year offer to roughly $6.2 million without dipping into cap space. If Los Angeles operates under the cap, the front office could instead use the projected $9.4 million room exception. Team officials are reportedly interested in retaining both Smart and shooter Luke Kennard, but must balance those negotiations against broader roster needs.
Decision deadline nears
Smart has until June 29 to exercise or decline the option. Should his asking price exceed the team’s preferred range, the Lakers could choose to allocate their cap room elsewhere.
Doncic stresses pivotal summer
After a season he labeled “bad” because the Lakers fell short of a championship, Doncic called the upcoming offseason “important,” underscoring organizational pressure to assemble a title contender around the All-NBA guard.
Smart’s contract choice, and the Lakers’ response, will be among the first decisions shaping that effort.
Source: Lakers Nation
