NBA rumors: Rockets a threat to steal Marcus Smart from Lakers

The Houston Rockets hope to re-tool the roster after losing in the NBA Playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakers. Houston is actually getting tied to a Lakers player, as the Rockets continue the rebuild. That is Lakers veteran guard Marcus Smart.

“League sources say that Smart, who is expected to draw interest from Houston and possibly other teams in free agency, is very much giving consideration to declining his $5.4 million player option for next season with the Lakers before Monday’s deadline to do so and then proceed to the open market,” Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported on The Stein Line.

The Rockets are faced with some other important decisions in the weeks and months ahead.

“Houston has a decision to make on swingman Tari Eason, but the early indications suggest that the Rockets remain hopeful of retaining their defensive-minded swingman,” the writers added.

Playing for the Lakers this past season, Smart averaged 9.3 points per game in the regular season.

Rockets have also explored a Jaylen Brown trade

The Rockets have also been tied this offseason to Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. Brown has been the subject of intense trade rumors in recent days. He has even come to defend himself on social media. It appears that his relationship with the Celtics might be crumbling.

Brown has a relationship with current Rockets head coach Ime Udoka. Udoka coached the Celtics to the NBA Finals in 2022. That previous relationship could definitely be a factor in why Houston is looking at Brown.

It isn’t clear what Houston would move in order to get Brown, or any other player for that matter. Stein and Fischer see one Houston player though as a likely trade candidate.

“The Rockets, sources say, are also exploring the trade market for avenues to move on from veteran swingman Dorian Finney-Smith and his contract, which has three more seasons to run at $13.3 million each but is not guaranteed in the final two seasons,” the writers added.

Time will tell how Houston re-shapes the roster for next year.

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