Marcus Smart was compelled to move forward with the Los Angeles Lakers by heading to the Houston Rockets this offseason.
Marcus Smart was simply ready to move on and pursue a new chapter outside the Los Angeles Lakers.
Position
PG, SG
Age
32
Height
191 cm
Weight
100 kg
Birth place
United States of America
Lakers insider Jovan Buha shared key details about the veteran guard’s departure in a recent appearance on Third Apron.
“I don’t have great clarity on this, and there are differing accounts of how it all went down, but my understanding is that to some degree, Smart was ready to move forward in a different situation,” Buha said.
Marcus Smart leaves Lakers to join Rockets
Marcus Smart left the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason by signing a two-year, $13 million contract with the Houston Rockets.
Smart will reunite with head coach Ime Udoka, with whom he has a strong relationship dating back to their 2022 NBA Finals run with the Boston Celtics.
With his hustle, defense, and leadership, Smart left a lasting impression in LA this past NBA season. He averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals, fully embracing his role as the Lakers’ defensive anchor.
Lakers signed key Marcus Smart replacements
Despite Marcus Smart’s departure, the Los Angeles Lakers still managed to fill his spot by signing solid guards and defensive reinforcements.
The Lakers successfully tapped Quentin Grimes (four-year, $60 million) and Collin Sexton (two-year, $19 million), as both guards are poised to be the team’s primary backcourt support for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
On the wing slate, LA also inked Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle via team-friendly deals. The two should easily replace Smart’s impact with their tenacity, reliability, and defensive pressure.
Even if Smart joins a Western Conference rival, the Lakers seem confident that their new additions can make a stronger impact to next year.
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