Lakers are signing Nick Smith Jr. to standard NBA contract – LeBron Wire

The Los Angeles Lakers are making a move to give themselves a little added guard depth in advance of the NBA playoffs with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves continuing to recover from their injuries.
Per Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers are signing Nick Smith Jr. to a two-year contract, which will allow him to play for them during this postseason. Smith had originally joined Los Angeles in late September on a two-way contract, and he has gotten spot duty at times this season.
“The Los Angeles Lakers are signing two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. to a new two-year contract, agent Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports told ESPN on Sunday,” Charania wrote.
According to Khobi Price of the California Post, Smith will have a team option and a non-guaranteed salary for next season.
Smith averaged six points and one assist in 12.3 minutes a game while shooting 40% from the field this season coming into Sunday’s game versus the Utah Jazz. He appeared in 29 games for L.A., and in 15 games with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, he was at 19.7 points on 51.1% field-goal shooting and 35.3% from 3-point range and 5.6 assists a contest.
He was originally the No. 27 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets after spending one season at the University of Arkansas.

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