The veteran guard turned down his Lakers option as Houston emerges as the clear favorite.
Marcus Smart appears headed to Houston after declining his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, with multiple reports tying the veteran guard to a reunion with a familiar coach as free agency opens.
Smart turns down his Lakers option
Smart passed on a $5.4 million player option with the Lakers on Monday, a decision that increasingly reads as the first step toward an exit. The 32 year old guard had drawn growing interest from the Rockets in the days leading up to the move, and reporting suggested he was seriously weighing a departure once a raise elsewhere looked likely. The Lakers had hoped to keep him in the rotation next season, but that prospect faded as outside interest mounted and the cost of retaining him climbed.
Houston emerges as the clear frontrunner
Several reports now point to the Rockets as the strong favorite to sign Smart. Marc Stein of The Stein Line described a growing expectation that Houston wants to pair Smart with Ime Udoka, who coached him during their shared time in Boston, while Dan Woike of The Athletic reported the Rockets had become a serious threat to pull him from Los Angeles. Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal added detail on the framework, reporting the two sides could work toward a deal in the range of three years and $21 million, a figure that would fit within the taxpayer mid level exception.
Marcus Smart is now officially declining his $5.4 million player option with the Lakers for next season amid a growing expectation Houston is eager to reunite Smart and Ime Udoka once free agency begins Tuesday at 6 PM ET.
As covered last night:
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 29, 2026
A reunion with Udoka makes sense for both sides
The fit is logical on several fronts. Smart spent his first nine NBA seasons in Boston, including a stretch under Udoka, so the two already have a working history. He also grew up in Texas, giving him roots in the area that make a move to Houston less of a leap than it might seem for other free agents. A three year commitment would also hand the well traveled guard something he has lacked in recent seasons, a measure of stability and a longer term home after bouncing between teams.
What Smart brings to the Rockets
Houston could use the backcourt depth. Smart averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals across 62 games for the Lakers last season, and while he is no longer the elite perimeter defender who once earned league wide recognition, he can still hold his own guarding multiple positions. The Rockets enter the summer looking to bounce back after a roster that underwhelmed and exited the postseason early, leaving them chasing Western Conference powers like the Thunder and Spurs. A bigger splash may still come, but adding a proven, defense first guard at the start of free agency would give Udoka a trusted piece as Houston tries to climb back into contention.