Marcus Smart says Lakers' free-agent offer to him was 'disrespectful'
The new Rockets guard details why he left Los Angeles for a smaller deal in his home state of Texas.
What to know
- Smart signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Rockets in his home state of Texas over a bigger Lakers offer.
- He says the Lakers offer didn't match his performance and lacked the contract security he wanted.
- Reporting notes the Lakers gave large contracts to other free agents with no All-Star pedigree while re-signing Smart at what he calls a lower value.
- Reddit discussion is split between backing Smart's frustration and questioning whether 'disrespectful' really applies given his choice for less guaranteed money and family proximity.
The dispute Whether Smart's 'disrespectful' framing is justified given that he chose a smaller, less guaranteed deal in Houston over a reportedly bigger Lakers offer. · positions read across 10 posts and comments
The Lakers' lavish spending on lesser players supports Smart's complaint that his offer undervalued him.
-
“nearly $480 million over 26 combined contract years, including four player options, to a group of players who have zero combined All-Star appearances or year-end awards.”
must_TATAKAE · r/nba ↗
It isn't really about the total money — Smart chose less guaranteed cash and more security/family proximity, which isn't confusing or contradictory.
-
“It not always about more money... less money plus proximity to family and friends in his home state was his choice.”
wedontliveonce · r/nba ↗
The Lakers offer was likely non-guaranteed or a team option, which explains the 'no security' complaint.
-
“my guess is it was non-guaranteed and/or team option? He did seem to point out it wasn't any security.”
CMYGQZ · r/nba ↗
Marcus Smart Houston Rockets guardLos Angeles Lakers Smart's former team
Kevin Durant Rockets forwardIme Udoka Rockets head coachJovan Buha Lakers insider/reporter
How it unfolded 7 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlespostscomments
-
7
Reddit debates whether money or contract terms drove Smart's move
Commenters on r/nba discussed whether Smart's decision reflected genuine disrespect, differences in guaranteed money versus team/player options, or simply a preference for security and family proximity over a bigger nominal offer.
“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 the…”
— Marcus Smart, Rockets guard · source -
N
Marcus Smart Calls Out Lakers ‘Disrespectful’ Contract Offer After Signing with Rockets in NBA FA https://www. rawchili.com/nba/842278/ # Basketball # NBA
2 more of the top 3 · 8 posts in this stretch
-
According to The Athletic, Los Angeles gave out “nearly $480 million over 26 combined contract years, including four player options, to a group of players who have zero combined All-Star appearances or year-end awards.” That included two years and $19.2 million for guard Collin Sexton, four years and $60 million for wing Quentin Grimes and four…
-
It not always about more money. Sounds like he expected a bigger offer from the Lakers given his contributions to the team. They didn't offer enough for him to think staying was worth it. So, less money plus proximity to family and friends in his home state was his choice. Other than you feeling disrespected that he made this choice I don't see…
-
-
6
Smart calls Lakers' re-signing offer 'disrespectful'
Smart told the Houston Chronicle's Varun Shankar that he turned down a bigger offer from the Lakers to sign a two-year, $12.4 million deal with Houston, saying the Lakers offer didn't match how well he played and lacked the security he wanted.
-
5
Smart details Texas roots, reunions with Udoka, Adams, VanVleet
Smart explained his decision to sign with the Rockets, citing his Texas roots and the chance to reunite with head coach Ime Udoka and former teammates Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet.
-
first by Sports Illustrated, 13h ago
-
-
4
Coverage notes Smart-Durant pairing Celtics once pursued
Reporting highlighted that Smart will now play alongside Kevin Durant in Houston, a pairing Boston reportedly tried to engineer twice in the past, and quoted Smart on the appeal of passing to Durant instead of guarding him.
“I get to be on the other side of him taking the shots and not taking the shots over me…his ability to make shots it doesn’t matter who’s there.”
— Marcus Smart -
N
Marcus Smart gets to do something with Rockets he never got to do with Celtics https://www. rawchili.com/nba/841930/ # Basketball # Houston # HoustonRockets # HoustonRockets # NBA # Rockets
-
-
3
Smart holds introductory press conference, touts Rockets' potential
At his introductory Rockets press conference, Smart discussed the team's potential, calling the 2026-27 outlook 'scary' for opponents from his new vantage point inside the organization.
-
first by Yahoo Sports, 1d ago
-
-
2
Smart signs with Rockets, says he's eager to play with Durant
Newly signed Rockets guard Marcus Smart expressed excitement about teaming up with Kevin Durant instead of having to guard him.
-
1 outlet first by Yahoo Sports, 1d ago · read ↗
-
- 5 days quiet
-
1
Lakers insider says split was no fallout, just a change
Lakers insider Jovan Buha reported that Smart's departure wasn't due to a major fallout but that he was simply ready for a change, noting the irony that Smart is joining the team he had just helped eliminate from the playoffs.
-
N
Lakers Insider Reveals Marcus Smart’s Reasoning to Leave the Lakers https://www. rawchili.com/nba/837072/ # Basketball # Houston # HoustonRockets # HoustonRockets # NBA # Rockets
-
What people are saying 5 voices from 1 site · best of 10 · verbatim
- Yesterday
-
why would bringing up taxes for pro players make someone a moron? Especially when pro players themselves cite how taxes affect contract decisions?
-
my guess is it was non-guaranteed and/or team option? He did seem to point out it wasn't any security.
-
Made me laugh love Marcus though 😂 appreciate how well he played last year for the lakers
-
Less money can mean a lot of different things. Rockets offer might have been more money annually but less years, or team options vs player options, etc. Smart got a 1+1 PO for 13M total
-
Because he played well for the lakers he is expecting money. He's not expecting that much from teams he didnt play for