Marcus Smart could have remained with the Los Angeles Lakers for another season. But when it came time for contract talks, the offer that he got from the franchise was “disrespectful.”
While he ended up signing a deal for less than what the Lakers offered him to join the Houston Rockets, Smart was offended by what the Lakers put on the table.
“First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didn’t match the way that I played, especially when you see guys who played way worse than I did, the offers they’re getting,” Smart said, via the Houston Chronicle. “And then it wasn’t any security that we wanted that they were willing to do.”
It’s unclear exactly what the Lakers offered Smart for a new deal, though he had signed a two-year, $10.5 million deal with the team last offseason that included a player option. The Lakers made several major offseason moves after the departure of star LeBron James, including signing Austin Reaves to a new four-year deal. They landed Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes, among others. In total, via The Athletic, they handed out nearly $480 million over a combined 26 contract years this offseason.
Smart’s deal, though, was not part of that chunk. After deciding to walk away, he reached a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Rockets. That will pay him an average of about $6.2 million per season before he hits free agency in 2028.
Smart averaged 9.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with the Lakers last season. The former Boston star, who the Celtics selected with the No. 6 overall pick in 2014, is now preparing to play for his fifth team in the league.
Though his play has been down over the past few seasons since he left Boston, and he’s bounced around seemingly constantly since that split, the Dallas-area native appreciated the Rockets’ offer.
“They gave me an opportunity to be able to go out and try to get what I’ve earned,” Smart said, “and what I’ve been working my tail off to provide for my family is a decent-sized paycheck with obviously years on it, right? Or a big paycheck with less years, but to be able to have that option.”
And, at least so far, Smart and new head coach Ime Udoka are working well together.
“He’s everything I’m all about, and vice-versa,” Udoka said.
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