Smart agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract with the Rockets on Wednesday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
With LeBron James expected to leave the Lakers, Smart declined his $5.4 million player option that would have kept him in Los Angeles for 2026-27 and will instead join Ime Udoka, who coached Smart for one season in Boston. That year, Smart won Defensive Player of the Year, and the Celtics reached the NBA Finals. Last regular season, the veteran guard averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 28.5 minutes per game over 62 appearances (54 starts). Smart figures to play a complementary role in Houston's backcourt, with Fred VanVleet (knee) working his way back to full strength.
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Becoming free agent
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Smart declined his $5.4 million player option for 2026-27 on Monday, per Shams Charania of ESPN.
The decision will allow Smart to become a free agent this summer. Last regular season, the veteran guard averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 28.5 minutes per game over 62 appearances (54 starts). Whether with the Lakers or elsewhere, Smart is likely seeking a multi-year deal.
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Huge workload in loss
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Smart finished Monday's 115-110 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals with five points (2-8 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 1-1 FT), two rebounds, three assists and two steals across 36 minutes.
Due to the absence of Luka Doncic (hamstring), Smart played a massive role in the postseason for the Lakers. As for the regular season, injuries limited Smart to 62 appearances. In those games, he shot 39.5 percent from the field with averages of 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 28.5 minutes per contest.
Smart registered 12 points (4-15 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, seven assists and four steals over 32 minutes during Tuesday's 108-90 loss to the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Lakers continue to rely heavily on Smart in the postseason, with Luka Doncic (hamstring) still on the mend. Through seven playoff games, Smart holds averages of 14.3 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 2.9 steals in 34.7 minutes per contest.
Lakers' Marcus Smart: Makes impact on defense in loss
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Smart produced nine points (3-8 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals over 31 minutes during Sunday's 115-96 loss to the Rockets in Game 4 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
It's the second straight game in which Smart has recorded multiple steals and blocks, and the third straight in which he's collected six or more combined. The veteran guard is averaging 17.5 points, 7.5 assists, 3.5 steals, 2.5 boards, 2.0 threes and 2.0 blocks in 34.8 minutes to begin the postseason as he fills a bigger role in the absence of Austin Reaves (oblique) and Luka Doncic (hamstring). Smart will likely be productive again in Game 5 on Wednesday as the Lakers look to advance to the second round.
Smart racked up 21 points (5-9 FG, 2-4 3Pt, 9-11 FT), four rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and five steals across 39 minutes during Friday's 112-108 overtime victory over the Rockets in Game 3 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Smart continues to play his best basketball of the season, turning in what might be his best performance in several years. With the Lakers still down on troops, Smart appears to have taken it upon himself to lead from the front, averaging 20.3 points, 8.3 assists, 2.7 three-pointers and 5.4 combined steals-plus-blocks across three games. Los Angeles now leads the series 3-0 heading into Game 4 in Houston on Sunday.
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Stupendous performance Tuesday
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Smart contributed 25 points (8-13 FG, 5-7 3Pt, 4-5 FT), two rebounds, seven assists, one block and five steals over 35 minutes during Tuesday's 101-94 win over Houston in Game 2 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Smart was electric on both ends of the floor, helping the Lakers to a somewhat surprising 2-0 lead. Despite being shorthanded, Los Angeles continues to defy the odds, with Smart being a major factor in the team's success. Through two playoff appearances, he has averaged 20.0 points, 7.5 assists, 3.0 three-pointers and 4.5 combined steals and blocks.
Smart will start Sunday's game against the Jazz, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reports.
Smart returned from a nine-game absence Friday, posting six points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block in 18 minutes off the bench during a 101-73 win over Phoenix. Sunday will be the veteran's first start since March 21, but he's been a regular in the first five, averaging 9.5 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 29.6 minutes across 53 starts this season.
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Solid output in limited minutes
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Smart (ankle) registered six points (2-5 FG, 0-2 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven assists, five rebounds, two steals and one block across 18 minutes Friday in the Lakers' 101-73 win over the Suns.
Smart was able to return to action for the Lakers' penultimate game of the regular season after he had missed the team's prior nine games due to a right ankle contusion. Though Smart had been a regular starter prior to getting hurt, the Lakers deployed him off the bench Friday, likely in an effort to manage his minutes. The Lakers could keep Smart's workload in check once again in Sunday's contest versus the Jazz, but the veteran guard could move back into a 30-plus-minute starting role once the postseason gets underway and while Los Angeles remains without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique).
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Not starting in return
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Smart (ankle) isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Suns, Ryan Ward of SI.com reports.
Smart missed the last nine games because of an ankle injury. It remains to be seen when Smart will return to the first unit, and Rui Hachimura will remain in the starting lineup against the Suns.
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Cleared from injury report
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Smart (ankle) is available for Friday's game against the Suns.
The veteran guard is set to end an eight-game absence Friday with a bruised right ankle, and he will likely supplant Rui Hachimura in the starting lineup. That said, both players should see meaningful playing time for a Lakers team that is missing both Austin Reaves (oblique) and Luka Doncic (hamstring).
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Won't play Thursday
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Smart is out for Thursday's game against the Warriors due to a right ankle contusion, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com.
The veteran guard will be sidelined for an eighth consecutive contest Thursday, and he has a short turnaround looming Friday versus the Suns. Luke Kennard and Jake LaRavia are both worthy of streaming consideration in all fantasy leagues in Smart's absence.
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Lakers' Marcus Smart: Questionable to play Thursday
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Smart (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Warriors.
Smart has missed the Lakers' last seven games due to a right ankle contusion. He has progressed enough in his recovery to be given the questionable tag for Thursday's contest, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him play in one game of the Lakers' upcoming back-to-back set and sit out the other contest, assuming he's cleared to suit up. Smart's return would provide a significant boost to a Lakers team that is without Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique).
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