Marcus Smart’s move from Los Angeles to Houston has already taken on a little extra edge, and the Lakers aren’t backing away from the reasoning behind how they handled his exit.
Smart spent one season with the Lakers, putting up 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals across 62 games before turning down his $5.4 million player option this summer. He then signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Houston Rockets, and during training camp he said the Lakers’ offer felt “disrespectful.”
Lakers president and general manager Rob Pelinka addressed that remark by pointing to the broader plan for the roster. Per the O.C. Register’s Benjamin Royer, Pelinka said the team wanted to build around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with players who fit their timeline.
“One of the things that we really wanted to lean into was a team that lined up in age with Luka and AR. We want this team to grow together, and I think we were very intentional to get younger and deeper. So I think if you look at our roster, that thesis was consistent throughout.”
Pelinka’s explanation lines up with how the Lakers are shaping the depth chart. Their projected backup guards for the upcoming season are Collin Sexton, who is 27, and Quentin Grimes, who is 25.
Smart’s new home also adds another layer to the Lakers-Rockets connection. Los Angeles knocked Houston out in the first round of last season’s playoffs, and now Smart joins a Rockets team trying to keep climbing in the Western Conference.
Houston head coach Ime Udoka already knows exactly what Smart brings. The two worked together in Boston, where Udoka’s first season with the Celtics ended with an NBA Finals trip and Smart winning the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
That familiarity matters because Smart’s defense and edge fit what Udoka likes to build. He looks like the kind of player Houston can deploy in different spots depending on the matchup and the game plan.
The Rockets’ backcourt picture is crowded, though. Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson are expected to start, while Smart, Sixth Man of the Year contender Reed Sheppard, and rookie Bruce Thornton give Houston several rotation options.
There’s also a case that Sheppard should get more playing time than Smart. In his sophomore season, Sheppard averaged 13.5 points, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 43% from the field over 82 games.
Even with that competition, Smart’s defensive value still stands out. His exact role in Houston may end up shifting based on what the team needs as the season unfolds.
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What makes the move more interesting is how quickly the two-way picture has opened up around them. Los Angeles recently waived two other players on Exhibit 10 deals to create space, and that leaves Kyle and Swider positioned to compete for one of the spots that can still change a fringe players outlook in a hurry. For a team still sorting through the edges of its roster, those kinds of camp battles can matter just as much as the names already locked in. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Kessler Trade Came After Utah Faced A Serious Threat
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Kessler ended up on a four-year, $130 million contract with the Lakers after reportedly passing on a five-year, $140 million offer from Utah, a choice that adds another layer to how the deal unfolded. Rob Pelinka also said Kessler is fully healthy after shoulder surgery, which only heightens the interest in what Los Angeles believes it added, even as the full story behind Utahs urgency continues to linger. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Could Not Hide What LeBron's Exit Meant To Him
LeBron James departure after eight seasons with the Lakers landed hard inside the locker room, and Austin Reaves did not try to mask it. Reaves, who developed a close relationship with James, spoke openly about how much the veteran meant to him as both a teammate and a mentor, a reminder of how much of last seasons identity was built around the two of them sharing the floor and the day-to-day rhythm that came with it.
Now Reaves is staring at a bigger role in Los Angeles heading into next season, with the Lakers needing more from him on and off the ball. Meanwhile, James heads to Philadelphia on a two-year deal, where the 76ers suddenly look every bit like a superteam alongside Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown, leaving the Lakers to figure out what life looks like without one of the leagues defining figures. [Read more 🡒]