sports
Marcus Smart Signs Two-Year Deal with Houston Rockets After Declining Lakers Option
Free agent guard Marcus Smart signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Houston Rockets that includes a player option for the second season. The 32-year-old made the decision Wednesday morning after declining his option with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Marcus Smart agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Houston Rockets that includes a player option for the second season, ESPN reported. Smart made the decision on the morning of Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and his agents Jason Glushon and Josh Ketroser informed Rockets officials of the agreement. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year will reunite with head coach Ime Udoka.
Smart had declined his $5.4 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers and became a free agent after signing a two-year, $10.5 million deal with the team last season. Smart played in 62 games for the Lakers in the 2025-26 season, starting 54 of them.
He averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while leading the team in plus-minus, with the Lakers outscoring opponents by 256 points in his minutes on the floor.
Smart joined the Lakers after playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards. He was recruited to Los Angeles by Luka Doncic. In the playoffs, Smart recorded 21 points, 10 assists and five steals in Game 3 of the Lakers' first-round series against the Rockets.
His 2.4 steals per game during the 2026 postseason ranked third among all players.
