Marcus Smart had the opportunity to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the veteran guard says their contract offer made his decision to leave much easier.Smart ultimately signed a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Houston Rockets, despite Los Angeles reportedly offering him more money.The 32-year-old explained that his decision wasnt simply about the total value of the contract. He felt the Lakers offer didnt reflect what he had provided during his season in Los Angeles.First off, I played so well that the offer that was ultimately given didnt match the way that I played, especially when you see guys who played way worse than I did, the offers theyre getting, Smart said, according to the Houston Chronicle. And then it wasnt any security that we wanted that they were willing to do.Smart averaged 9.3 points, three assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for the Lakers last season after originally signing a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the franchise.Los Angeles was extremely active elsewhere during the offseason, committing nearly $480 million across 26 combined contract years, according to The Athletic.That included a new four-year deal for Austin Reaves, while the Lakers also added Walker Kessler, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes following LeBron James departure.Smart instead headed to Houston, where his new contract will pay him an average of approximately $6.2 million per season through 2028.For Smart, the Rockets provided something he didnt believe he was getting from Los Angeles: the opportunity to earn what he believes his play is worth.They gave me an opportunity to be able to go out and try to get what Ive earned, Smart said, according to the Houston Chronicle, and what Ive been working my tail off to provide for my family is a decent-sized paycheck with obviously years on it, right? Or a big paycheck with less years, but to be able to have that option.The move also reunites Smart with Ime Udoka, who coached him during Bostons run to the 2022 NBA Finals.Now preparing for his fifth NBA team, Smart will look to establish himself in Houston after bouncing around the league since leaving the Celtics in 2023.READ MORE: Steven Adams Has Hilarious GTA Theory For Pro Sports in November
