Marcus Smart Passed On $5.4 Million While Deandre Ayton Signed For $8.1 Million: The NBA Is Watching L.A.

Alright, fam, sit down, because the NBA offseason just got wild. We're talking real money moves in L.A. that have everyone buzzing. Sources are dropping bombs, and it’s all about player options. Deandre Ayton is officially locking in his $8.1 million player option for the 2026-27 season with the Lakers. But hold up, that's only half the story. The real kicker? Marcus Smart is walking away, declining his $5.4 million option, and that's the kind of move that shakes things up big time.

Ayton's $8.1 Million Bet

Let's talk Ayton's bet on himself. Remember last summer? Dude gave up a massive $10 million from his $35.6 million contract just to get out of Portland and land that high-profile starting gig with the Lakers. He signed a two-year, $16.2 million deal, with that second year being his call, and he's made it. Picking up that $8.1 million shows he's either confident in his role or wants to run it back to boost his stock even more. He put up 12.5 points on a ridiculous 67.1% shooting and 8.0 boards during the regular season. Then he kicked it up in the playoffs with 10.0 points and 9.6 rebounds. He even had a strong showing closing out the Houston Rockets in the first round. The guy, who turns 28 this summer, has had a journey from Phoenix to Portland to now L.A., and he clearly feels there's more to p

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Marcus Smart's $5.4 Million Mic Drop

Now for the real head-scratcher: Marcus Smart. This dude is turning down $5.4 million! We're talking about a former Defensive Player of the Year who, honestly, brought his game back to life with the Lakers. After a couple of "meh" seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards, Luka Doncic himself recruited Smart to L.A. And it paid off! Smart led the team in plus-minus, with L.A. outscoring opponents by a whopping 256 points when he was on the floor. That's *impact*. He started 54 of the 62 games he played, averaging 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. At 32 years old, walking away from that kind of guaranteed money speaks volumes about what he thinks he can get on the open market. This isn't a small decision, folks, it's a gamble that could massively pay off or leave him looking for a new home. So, what does this mean for the Lakers moving forward? Ayton staying gives them a known quantity in the paint, a solid big man who can rebound and shoot efficiently. But Smart walking? That opens up a huge hole, but also a chunk of cap space and flexibility. It's going to be wild watching how L.A. navigates free agency now. Who do they target to fill that defensive and playmaking void? This is just the start of the offseason fireworks, and you know we’ll be glued to every single move. Get ready for some serious roster building in the City of Angels!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.