The Lakers have three players who have to decide on their contract options: Marcus Smart ($5.4 million player option), Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million player option), and Nick Smith Jr. ($2.5 million team option). The players and the team have until the June 29th deadline to decide on them.
According to NBA insiders Jake L. Fischer and Marc Stein, the 32-year-old Smart is considering declining his player option with the Lakers to test free agency.
“The Rockets do, however, loom as a possible free agent destination for another one of Udoka’s former players in Boston: Marcus Smart,” they wrote in their latest Substack.
“League sources say that Smart, who is expected to draw interest from Houston and possibly other teams in free agency, is very much considering declining his $5.4 million player option for next season with the Lakers before Monday’s deadline to do so and then proceed to the open market.”
This information comes amid the rumors that the Rockets are interested in a reunion between Jaylen Brown and Ime Udoka. The report clarifies that while the Rockets are not actively pursuing a trade for Brown, they are a team that would potentially be interested if Smart chose to decline his player option.
The 32-year-old averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 39.5% from the field and 33.1% from behind the three-point line. He proved his real value during the playoffs, where, against the Rockets, he was a menacing defender who put the clamps on Reed Sheppard and bullied the young Rockets on several occasions.
Smart took over the playmaking duties in the absence of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and arguably played a crucial role in the Lakers proceeding from the first round despite being favorites to exit that series.
He ended that series averaging 14.7 points, 5.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while going 46.4% from the field and 44.8% from beyond the arc. Reaves returned midway through that series, and Smart went back to his off-ball role.
A veteran point guard is exactly what the Rockets needed to mentor the young Reed Sheppard last season. With Fred VanVleet now coming back from a potentially career-changing injury, having a veteran backup point guard like Smart is not a bad option for the Rockets.
But the main issue for the Rockets would be how this impacts the development of Reed Sheppard. With VanVleet returning next season, Sheppard cannot go back to being a third option.
The only way this makes sense is if either Smart or VanVleet agrees to playing the same role that Aaron Holiday played last season while coming off the bench. Otherwise, such a move could be severely problematic for Reed Sheppard’s growth.
Therefore, it will be interesting to see if Smart declines his player option and where he goes if he decides to test free agency instead of signing a team-friendly deal to stay with the Lakers.
