Marcus Smart Rumors

The Lakers are interested in retaining Marcus Smart and sharpshooter Luke Kennard, sources told ESPN. Smart, who was recruited to L.A. by Doncic and has until June 29 to exercise the final year of his contract at $5.4 million, enjoyed his role with the Lakers and is hoping for a new contract and a raise, sources said. Kennard, for his part, was on an $11 million expiring contract and has interest in making L.A. his long-term home after previously playing 2½ seasons with the LA Clippers.

ESPN

Sure, there is LeBron James and Austin Reaves, two of the biggest names available. But there are, too, veterans like Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, and swing pieces like Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes. That means that the Lakers will have some choices to make. Increasingly, word is that the Lakers like a lot of the players they have on hand, and rather than making sweeping changes to the roster, could instead bring back a lot of last season’s players with just one midrange addition worth in the $20 million AAV range, likely for a big man. Making choices on getting rid of players who helped on the floor and in the locker room–Smart and Hachimura, perhaps–won’t be easy. “They have cap space and that’s a great position to be in,” one Western Conference executive said. “But they really like their group. They’re going to have to make a painful decision or two with that roster.”

Heavy.com

Ayton, who certainly played to his $8.1 million contract this season, had a strong first-round series against Houston All-Star Alperen Şengün. He could opt out to try to find a bigger payday with the Lakers or elsewhere. Smart, whom Dončić recruited in free agency, could opt out of his deal and seek a longer-term contract. The Lakers have interest in retaining him.

New York Times

Hachimura, who made all four of his three-point attempts in the first half, had a chance at a three on the Lakers’ first possession but instead passed to Ayton, who was fouled on the floor. Marcus Smart tried a lob to Ayton, but the center couldn’t corral the pass. The Lakers went back to him on each of the next two offensive possessions and he scored on both. He scored six of his 10 points during a three-and-a-half-minute stretch of the third quarter. “DA is a hell of a player,” said Smart, one of Ayton’s closest teammates. “We all know it. We just want to get him the touches and get him the feel early, just to give them a different look. ... All the guards are doing their thing. So we’re just trying to get the big fella involved.”

Los Angeles Times

Dave McMenamin: “JJ’s been nice; we were ass” - Marcus Smart on how the Lakers were coached by JJ Redick in Game 1 vs. how the Lakers players executed in Game 1

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Dave McMenamin: The Lakers lose Game 1, 108-90, after being outscored 39-25 in the last quarter and a half. LeBron 27 pts 6 ast; Rui 18 pts; Smart 12 pts on 4-of-15 shooting 7 ast 4 stl; Ayton 10 pts 11 reb; Reaves 8 pts on 3-of-16 4 ast. OKC bench outscored LAL reserves 34-15.

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Oh No He Didn't: Marcus Smart: "I know charges get overlooked. A lot of people don't like them...I love charges, it's demoralizing and it just shows how impactful you're going to be and that you're willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the game and for your team and to continue to do it one after another that sets the tone in itself"

Twitter

Benjamin Royer: Marcus Smart said the defensive effort in Game 6, holding the Rockets to 78 points, all starts with Deandre Ayton: “I can sit here and talk all day about DA. I love him. I'm proud of him.”

Twitter

Dave McMenamin: “I’ll always have my teammates’ backs” - Luke Kennard on his reaction to being fined $25,000 for confronting the refs at center court with Marcus Smart after Game 4

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NBA Communications: Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart has been fined $35,000 for questioning the integrity of game officials and Lakers guard Luke Kennard has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language toward game officials, it was announced today by James Jones, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations. The incidents occurred following the conclusion of the Houston Rockets' 115-96 victory over the Lakers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series on April 26 at Toyota Center.

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Benjamin Royer: “Hilarious, very hilarious,” Marcus Smart on his view of the postgame mid-court scuffle between the Lakers and Rockets.

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Law Murray: The NBA says in L2MR that Marcus Smart should have been called for a lane violation in regulation and that LeBron James was out of bounds in overtime

Twitter

Dave McMenamin: “It was a smart play … that’s part of my vet savvy. That helped us a lot” - Marcus Smart on his sequence under 30 seconds in regulation when he got a steal and drew a foul on a 3 to give L.A. life

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Lakers Daily: Marcus Smart on LeBron's clutch 3: "He did what he does best. He makes big times plays. That's why he's one of the greatest, if not the greatest to do this."

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