Things have gone from understandable to undeniably confusing for the Los Angeles Lakers after their latest offseason departure. Marcus Smart is heading to the Houston Rockets. The contract that is being reported by Shams Charania would have been unbelievably easy to match by the Lakers front office.
"Free agent guard Marcus Smart has agreed on a two-year, $13 million deal with the Houston Rockets, plus a player option for the second season, sources tell ESPN. The former Defensive Player of the Year reunites with Ime Udoka for significant opportunity in the Rockets backcourt."
$13 million? Two years? The Lakers have officially lost the plot by not matching that type of money for someone who is a proven and capable fit around their franchise superstar. What reason was their to not continue this partnership for an extra couple of seasons beyond this one?
There was no long-term commitment necessary. It did not involve any big money being forked over in the deal. The Lakers just took a page out of Colin Cowherd's playbook by telling Smart they were good. This is where Rob Pelinka really should have drawn the line in the sand.
Lakers deliver a confusing message by letting Marcus Smart walk
When LeBron James and the franchise were headed in different directions, it was a split that could have been justified as mutual and understandable. Even when Luke Kennard left to join the Phoenix Suns, there was some rationale to be extracted from the situation. This one is downright bad.
The money and the length of the contract should have presented no issues here for the Lakers. From an on-court fit, they just lost their best perimeter (and overall) defender from last season. No one on the free agent market stands out as a capable replacement for Smart as a point of attack defender.
Beyond just the deliverables on the court, the veteran guard was a culture setter. Sometimes those things can get overstated, but that should not be the case here. Smart was every bit as important in the intangibles department as anyone of sound mind could tell you.
Even if the Lakers are setting aside money for someone like Jalen Duren or Walker Kessler, there is no reason they could not have privately had an agreement to take care of Smart once it was done. Rumors about Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili ultimately ending up in Los Angeles more than suggest that was doable.
It is tough to imagine what statement the Lakers are trying to make here by letting Smart go. They will owe everyone an explanation by the time a podium is put in place to discuss the offseason with the public.
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