Houston Rockets Reportedly Interested In 10-Year NBA Veteran

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Houston Rockets have interest in a Memphis Grizzlies player.

Apr 11, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka looks on against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports / Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Smart has been among the best role players in the NBA for nearly a decade.

The former Oklahoma State star is coming off his first year playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

He finished the regular season with averages of 14.5 points, 2.7 rebounds 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals per contest while shooting 43.0% from the field and 31.3% from the three-point range in 20 games.

Jan 9, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart (36) celebrates after he makes a three point shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

On Wednesday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported that the Houston Rockets are a team with interest in Smart.

Via Scotto's article on HoopsHype: "Houston is continuing to seek upgrades to help the team improve now, and Rockets coach Ime Udoka remains a fan of his former Celtics player, Marcus Smart, on the Grizzlies, league sources told HoopsHype."

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— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 26, 2024

The Rockets haven't been to the NBA playoffs in four years.

That said, they are coming off a season where they went 41-41, which had them as the 11th seed in the Western Conference.

They improved their roster (last summer), so the addition of another veteran such as Smart would give them an excellent chance to compete for a top-eight seed.

REPORT: The Rockets have their eyes on Marcus Smart, per @MikeAScotto.

“Houston is continuing to seek upgrades to help the team improve now, and Rockets coach Ime Udoka remains a fan of his former Celtics player, Marcus Smart, on the Grizzlies,”

(https://t.co/c7ctspk8B3) pic.twitter.com/6OnWvK7UBt

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 26, 2024

Smart spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics.

He helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals five times (and they reached the 2022 NBA Finals).

Nov 22, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first half against the Houston Rockets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports / Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Smart has career averages of 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting 38.8% from the field and 32.3% from the three-point range in 601 regular season games.

He has also appeared in 108 NBA playoff games.