Rockets are the frontrunners to sign Smart! Long-term contract discussions expected, Lakers may lose key player for second straight year

On June 29, Lakers reporter Woike noted that Smart faces a player option choice. Numerous league insiders say he will probably opt out of his remaining contract, enter unrestricted free agency, and pursue a long-term deal. According to team and league sources, once the free agency period begins on July 1, the Rockets are the strongest candidates to land Smart, and negotiations for a multi-year agreement are anticipated. Smart previously played under current Rockets head coach Ime Udoka during his time with the Celtics.

At 32 years old, Smart was a key rotation player for the Lakers last season, starting 54 of 62 regular-season games and serving as the team's most reliable perimeter defender. He performed well in the playoffs, helping a depleted roster eliminate the Rockets in the first round.

Smart holds a $5.4 million player option for next season. He is expected to decline it. According to reports from renowned journalists Marc Stein and Jake Fischer yesterday, the Rockets are the favored destination for Smart.

For the Lakers, this would mark the second consecutive offseason in which they lose a key player: in the 2025 offseason, the Rockets acquired Dorian Finney-Smith. League sources say Finney-Smith has been plagued by injuries this season, and the Rockets are planning to trade him away.

If the Lakers lose Smart, their offseason priorities will shift to: acquiring a strong interior player and adding a first-line perimeter defender.

In the 2025-26 season, Smart played 62 regular-season games, averaging 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals. He also appeared in 10 playoff games, posting averages of 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.4 steals.