Marcus Smart may be headed back to a coach who already knows exactly what he brings.
Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal reported that the Rockets have significant interest in Smart and are expected to work toward a deal in the three-year, $21 million range. The move would reunite Smart with Houston head coach Ime Udoka, who coached him in Boston.
Smart reached free agency Monday after declining his $5.4 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Lakers. At 32, the reported Houston framework would give him one more multiyear deal and a clear raise over the option he left behind.
The basketball fit is easy to read. Houston has leaned into defense, physical guards and veteran edge around its young core, and Smart still checks those boxes even if his shooting remains uneven. For the Lakers, it would also mean losing another point-of-attack defender at a time when their offseason already has major roster questions.
Nothing is official yet, but Houston being framed as the frontrunner this early gives the Rockets a defined target as free agency opens.
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