The NBA world awaits the opening of free agency on Tuesday evening, and a couple of Los Angeles Lakers could be on the move.
LeBron James’ future remains up in the air. He will be an unrestricted free agent when the window opens, for the first time since 2018. The Lakers are yet to make an offer to the 41-year-old, and there is growing belief that James will be heading for pastures new.
That’s one to watch, but one of his teammates seems to have made up his mind. Marcus Smart appears to have made a decision on his future.
Marcus Smart to test NBA free agency after Lakers snub
With just over a day to go until free agency, ESPN’s Shams Charania claims Smart has declined a $5.4 million player option offered to him by the Lakers.
It doesn’t mean his time in LA is certainly at an end. He could still re-sign as a free agent.
However, The Athletic’s Dan Woike claims a move to the Houston Rockets is the most likely outcome at present.
He writes: “Strangely enough, according to team and league sources, the belief is that the Rockets will be the team most likely to land Smart once free agency opens on June 30 thanks to a multi-year deal. Smart played for Rockets coach Ime Udoka in Boston.”
Smart signed with the Lakers just last summer. He averaged about 9 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists last term — not the kind of production Rob Pelinka would have been hoping for when he signed the 32-year-old from the Washington Wizards.
His next destination is not yet known, and it could be that he’s still wearing purple and gold come opening night.
But the signs point to a new challenge for the former Defensive Player of the Year.
