The Los Angeles Lakers have signed a new player to the team and he is a former first round pick to a two-way contract. The deal was announced by NBA reporter on ESPN, Dave McMenamin.
A look at Lakers’ new signee ahead of the upcoming NBA season
The 17-time NBA Champions are gearing to add another title in their trophy cabinet and the franchise is totally focused on improving their squad. Following the shocking addition of Luka Doncic, who will be entering his first full season with the team, Lakers have now signed Nick Smith Jr. As per a report by McMenamin, the ESPN NBA reporter:
“Nick Smith Jr. will be signing with the Lakers on a two-way contract, sources told ESPN.”
Who is Nick Smith Jr.?
Nick Smith Jr. is a point guard who most recently played for the Charlotte Hornets. The 21-year-old attended North Little Rock high school during his senior year of prep days. The youngster was named the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022. Before that, the Jacksonville, Arkansas native also attended Sylvan Hills High School.
The new Lakers player started in 14 games and played 617 minutes by the All-Star Break. Smith Jr. was a potential short-term starter for the team following injuries and the player now has a new squad to play for. The Hornets selected him as the 27th pick of the 2023 NBA draft.
Smith was recently waived by his former team despite his record of 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game on average. However, the team reportedly faced a roster crunch ahead of the 2025/26 season and had 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts.