Lakers Wounds Open Up Further After Marcus Smart's $5.4M Decision Amid Rockets Rumors

The Los Angeles Lakers free agency period has borne mixed results so far. They were able to re-sign Austin Reaves to a long-term deal. That, though, went exactly as expected. On the other hand, Marcus Smart is headed for free agency and might just join a Western Conference rival.

The former Defensive Player of the Year, who joined the Lakers in July last year, had a $5.4 million player option, which he has declined. He is now officially an unrestricted free agent, which means that the Lakers cannot prevent him from negotiating with any other team.

In the 2025-26 season, Smart averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals. Those are modest numbers, but what really made him valuable to LA was his leadership on defense.

Smart made up for LA's superstars' defensive lapses, with Luka Doncic, for instance, not known for his defensive prowess, and always showed up to do the dirty work on the court.

Even with him, the Lakers had well-documented defensive struggles last season. They posted a defensive rating of 114.7, which, while not among the league's worst, was still well below the level expected of a true contender. For comparison, the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with a defensive rating of 107. Without Smart, the front office will need to focus on acquiring defensive specialists this summer.

Now, Smart declining his player option doesn't necessarily mean he's leaving LA. He could simply be looking to negotiate a new deal. However, another Western Conference team is emerging as the favorite to land him.

The Houston Rockets, who are building a strong defensive identity under head coach Ime Udoka, have been heavily linked with the 32-year-old defensive specialist.

Multiple insiders, including Mark Stein, Jake Fischer, and Dan Woike of The Athletic, have all linked the two parties.

Losing Smart would split LA's focus this offseason, as the front office would also have to search for capable defenders. Without one, the Lakers' already suspect defense could take another step back next season.

DeAndre Ayton Picks Up His Player Option With the Lakers

While Smart has decided to test free agency, DeAndre Ayton has chosen the opposite. He picked up his one-year $8 million option, keeping him in LA for just a bit longer.

This comes after Ayton played his worst statistical season yet. In 2025-26, he put up 12. 5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 0.8 assists. Not only are all these career-lows, but it's also the first time in his career that he did not average double-figure rebounding.

This past season, he was heavily criticized for his evident lack of effort. Critics noticed this not only in crashing the boards but also in defense.

Due to these shortcomings from Ayton, discussions around the league were that the Lakers needed to find a different big man. A narrative that's persisted for them even during the days when they had Anthony Davis on the squad.

Had he entered free agency, his value would be at an all-time low. Picking up his player option is a good way for Ayton to get a guaranteed contract for one more year and then take that time to rebuild his value.

To do that, though, Ayton will need to prove that he can crash the boards with regularity, provide consistent effort, and make other teams hesitate to score inside when he's there.

That alone won't solve LA's big man issues, or their overall lackluster defense, but it's a good start.