Marcus Smart said the Lakers’ offer did not match his play and lacked the security he wanted before he signed with Houston in July. Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk speculated money was behind Rui Hachimura’s Clippers move, despite Luka Dončić wanting him back.
Smart said players he believed had performed worse received better offers. He spent one season with the Lakers and stepped up during their first-round playoff-series win over Houston while the team’s top players were injured.
Hachimura had spent three seasons with the Lakers. Rovenchuk said Hachimura wanted to stay in Los Angeles; the financial explanation was speculation, and the article provides no contract details establishing why he left.
