The Houston Rockets are signing free-agent guard Marcus Smart to a two-year, $13-million contract, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
Smart's deal includes a player option for the 2027-28 season, Charania adds.
The 32-year-old spent this past season with the Los Angeles Lakers and declined his $5.2-million player option to hit the open market. Lakers star guard Luka Doncic recruited him to the team after he was waived by the Washington Wizards last July.
Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 62 games last year (54 starts). He shot just over 39% from the field but was solid defensively. The veteran led Los Angeles in plus-minus.
Smart now reunites with Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, who was his bench boss for multiple seasons on the Boston Celtics from 2021-23.
The 2014 sixth overall pick has received three NBA All-Defensive First Team nominations during his 12-year career.
