The last 48 hours have been a perilous rollercoaster for the Los Angeles Lakers. They missed out on Isaiah Stewart, who is now with the Memphis Grizzlies, while Isaiah Hartenstein is expected to stay in Oklahoma City on a new long-term deal. That leaves Mitchell Robinson as one of the few proven centers still linked to LA’s search for frontcourt help. But in their pursuit of a big man, they now risk losing a familiar essential defensive anchor.

According to prominent league insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Houston Rockets have emerged as a significant threat to steal veteran guard Marcus Smart from the Lakers.

Smart, who turned into one of LA’s key defensive voices, is “very much considering” declining his $5.4 million player option for the upcoming season before Monday’s deadline. If he does, the NBA veteran will explore the open market as an unrestricted free agent. Stein and Fischer note that the Lakers will face competition for the former Defensive Player of the Year, who is “expected to draw interest.”

The sudden threat of losing Smart comes at a highly vulnerable moment for Rob Pelinka’s front office. They have a looming task: fixing a roster still searching for a reliable interior presence. The top priority has been adding a center. While DeAndre Ayton has featured prominently in offseason speculation, Smart largely stayed out of it until reports emerged linking him to Houston if he reaches free agency.

But why specifically just the Rockets?

So, the Rockets could get their revenge for that playoff defeat by stealing Smart. And a reunion with head coach Ime Udoka makes plenty of sense as well. Smart enjoyed the best stretch of his career under Udoka in Boston, helping the Celtics reach the 2022 NBA Finals while establishing himself as one of the league’s premier defensive guards. Even though his career had been marred by injuries ever since, the Lakers saw value in him last year.

Luka Doncic had played a role in convincing Smart to join the team. Pelinka also called Smart a “key leadership voice”. It is safe to say that trust paid off because he averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He notably led all Lakers players in plus-minus at +256! Then, in the postseason, Smart averaged 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals, including a couple of big-time 20-point performances against the Rockets.

Earlier this month, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that the Lakers “are interested” in retaining Smart, but league sources now indicate that he has his sights set pretty much elsewhere. That will leave the Lakers scrambling to maintain the backcourt leadership and elite defense he contributed to the rotation.

Lakers’ options for centers trim down further…

The LA front office is fighting multiple battles. They’ve somehow finalized Austin Reaves’ deal while there is silence surrounding LeBron James’ future. At the same time, the search for a starting-caliber center has become increasingly difficult, with Marcus Smart’s situation adding another layer of uncertainty.

The center market remains the Lakers’ biggest roster need. They were eyeing Robert Williams III, whose talent has long been offset by durability concerns. Stewart’s move to Memphis removed another physical, defensive-minded big man from the market before the Lakers could make a move.

Hartenstein appeared to be an ideal fit after playing a major role in Oklahoma City’s championship run. However, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Thunder intend to sign him to a new three-year extension, keeping him under contract through the 2028-29 season. The agreement effectively removes another top center from an already thin market.

With the Thunder successfully locking down one of the league’s most sought-after big men, the Lakers are left with dwindling options to stabilize their frontcourt, all while dealing with the possibility of Smart’s departure. The Rockets could use their financial flexibility to offer a more lucrative, long-term deal than the $5.4 million option Smart currently holds.

That leaves Pelinka facing two interconnected challenges: finding a dependable center while convincing Smart to remain in LA. Both have become considerably more difficult over the past few days. The front office also needs to find solutions involving their 41-year-old legend, Rui Hachimura, and Luke Kennard.

Marc Stein recently reported that the Lakers are “regarded as a likely suitor” for Mitchell Robinson once free agency begins. The big man is likely going to have to accept a huge pay cut to return to New York. And if the Knicks want to stay under the second apron, a realistic return for him seems very difficult.

That opens a new door for the Lakers, who will need to find solutions for their interior defense and overall roster balance around Doncic next season. There’s no guarantee that the Slovenian will retire in Purple and Gold. Doncic has a player option for the 2028-29 season, which could be a major turning point for the Lakers… whether that turns out to be positive or negative remains to be seen.