Marcus Smart Calls Lakers' Free Agency Offer 'Disrespectful'

Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has publicly stated that the free agency offer he received from the team this offseason was “disrespectful.” Smart, who opted out of a two-year, $10.5 million deal he signed with the Lakers the previous year, shared his feelings in an interview with The Houston Chronicle.

“First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didn’t match the way that I played,” Smart told the Chronicle. He added, “Especially when you see guys who played way worse than I did, the offers they’re getting. And then it wasn’t any security that we wanted that they were willing to do.”

Smart has since signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Houston Rockets, which includes a player option. He noted that the Rockets offered him an opportunity to earn a "decent-sized paycheck with obviously years on it" or a "big paycheck with less years, but to be able to have that option."

When Smart initially joined the Lakers, he was expected to be a reserve player. However, he emerged as a defensive anchor and a starter during the playoffs. He concluded his season with a defensive rating of 116.9, averaging 2.2 defensive rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game.