​Over the course of three seasons under Ime Udoka, the Houston Rockets have established themselves as a consistently stout defensive unit. It only makes sense, then, that veteran guard Marcus Smart—who earned NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors while playing for Udoka with the 2021-22 Boston Celtics—will join the Rockets’ ranks. Houston made Smart’s free-agent signing official on Friday. According to reports, the deal spans two years for roughly $13 million, with the second year structured as a player option.
With the contract now finalized, Rockets leadership could publicly comment on Smart’s arrival. In an ESPN interview conducted during Friday’s summer league game, Rockets general manager Rafael Stone expressed his enthusiasm: “Very excited. I’ve loved him as a player his whole career. Feels like a Rocket, so I’m glad we could finally make it happen.” Stone emphasized Smart’s versatility, saying he’s comfortable having Smart guard multiple positions and even centers if needed. “If he’s guarding 5s, I’m good. That’s one of the exciting things about him. I think he’s just really versatile defensively, and offensively. I think his ability to handle and pass is underrated. So, we’re really excited to have him in.”
Stone outlined the Rockets’ defensive philosophy as well, noting their aim to be versatile and switch everything, applying pressure across the floor. He believes Smart fits perfectly into that framework. At 6-foot-3, Smart may be physically undersized for some matchups, but his ferocity and defensive versatility allow him to guard a range of positions effectively. Last season, his impact was evident in the numbers: he led the Lakers in on-off differential (+9.6), and advanced metrics highlighted the strength of his defense. His performance in high-stakes games also stood out, underscoring his capacity to elevate play when it matters most. In the 2026 playoffs, Smart averaged 12.9 points per game on 34.0% shooting from three, along with 5.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals, a production level that helped Los Angeles push past Houston in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.
Looking ahead to next season, the Rockets appear poised to open with a starting five that includes Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, health permitting. That lineup would leave Smart, Tari Eason, Reed Sheppard, Steven Adams, and newly acquired shooter Bogdan Bogdanović among the team’s most important reserves. The addition of Smart bolsters Houston’s guard depth and veteran presence, pairing his playoff-tested experience with the Rockets’ young core to form a potentially formidable defensive unit.
This week’s move, widely covered and discussed, culminates in Smart’s two-year, $13 million agreement with Houston. The deal signifies a clear intent from the Rockets: to build a defense-first foundation around a blend of proven veterans and burgeoning stars, leveraging Smart’s versatility and leadership to accelerate the team’s development. For fans and analysts, the signing signals that Houston plans to lean into a switch-heavy, aggressive defensive approach while continuing to refine its offense around a talented core that includes VanVleet, Durant, and Sengun.