The Los Angeles Lakers had a number of role players who were extremely critical to their success last season and arguably the most important was veteran guard Marcus Smart. Smart was the perfect fit alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves operating as the primary defender on the opposition’s best guard and generally being the player who set the tone energy-wise for the team.
Smart declining his player option for the 2026-27 season was expected after he proved he could still contribute to winning in a big way. After reaching free agency, he has now cashed in on a two-year deal to join the Houston Rockets, via Shams Charania of ESPN:
Free agent guard Marcus Smart has agreed on a two-year, $13 million deal with the Houston Rockets, plus a player option for the second season, sources tell ESPN. The former Defensive Player of the Year reunites with Ime Udoka for significant opportunity in the Rockets backcourt. pic.twitter.com/NzfArD8zbF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026
After injuries hampered him over the previous two years, Smart bounced back in a big way for the Lakers last season, averaging 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals, while also being amongst the league leaders in charges drawn. He then stepped into a more primary playmaking role in the postseason with Doncic and Reaves out due to injury, averaging 12.9 points, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals while helping the Lakers reach the second round of the playoffs.
Smart signed with the Lakers after being personally recruited by Doncic with the hopes of rejuvenating his value across the league, and he did exactly that. His offensive contributions were nice, but what he brought as a defender and leader was invaluable and that will be missed. Smart was a player who could really change the momentum of games with his hustle on the court and the Lakers will need someone to step up in that role.
That could fall on the Lakers’ younger players. Second-year guard Adou Thiero is poised to step into a larger role next season while they also selected Cameron Carr in the first round of this year’s draft and he has already spoken about being a primary defender for this team.
Last season, the Rockets were viewed as a team lacking in veteran leadership and a point guard who could set the table for their offensive cornerstones and Smart can step into that role, which is perhaps why he had been linked to them during the offseason.
Lakers’ options to replace Marcus Smart
There are some outside options for the Lakers in free agency that could help to replace what Smart brought to the team. In recent weeks the team has been linked to both Lu Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cameron Johnson of the Denver Nuggets and Ziaire Williams of the Brooklyn Nets.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
