The Los Angeles Lakers are officially made with two-way contracts with the guard Nick Smith Jr. which also makes his roster complete with two-way contracts with Christian Koloko and Chris Manon. The Lakers waived center Kylor Kelley to make room to sign Smith, who comes back to the G League.
Nick Smith Jr., 21, has been drafted 27 th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023 NBA Draft as a product of the University of Arkansas. He had two seasons with Hornets, and demonstrated moments of his scoring prowess when he was given regular playing time. Last season, Smith played in 60 games with 27 starts averaging 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assist per game. Upon his debut, his statistics increased to 13.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, which points to his potential and reliability as a backcourt player.
Charlotte cut Smith last week because of a roster crunch and too many guards. Though he was assured of a standard contract, Smith was still open to a two-way agreement because he was playing in his third year, and could have still developed within the NBA with the Los Angeles team.
Nick Smith Jr. has a reputation of being versatile and athletic. Standing 6’5”, he is capable of playing both guard positions and can present an opportunity with the ball in his hands, or score off the catch. He, too, has defensive potential, and can make an impact on that side of the floor when concentrated. Among his best performances last season was in a match against Toronto Raptors, in which he got 28 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists, including six 3-pointers.
Besides his experience in the NBA, Nick Smith Jr. has also left an impression in the G league. He had an average of 22.3 points and 4.4 assists on a total of over seven games in two seasons with a 45.2 field goal percentage and 43.3 three-point percentage. These figures reflect his ability to score and become a rotation player.
In the meantime, Kylor Kelley, 27, will join the South bay Lakers once again having made 32 appearances with the G League team last year. He scored an average of 11.5, 7.3, 1.5, and 2.4 points, rebounds, assists, and blocks respectively and had a career-high 68.2 field shooting rate. The bonus available to Kelley is also up to 85, 300 in case Kelley stays in South Bay more than 60 days.
The Lakers are putting money on Nick Smith Jr. to become a versatile, dynamic guard that can play in both the G League and the NBA with this signing. This two-way transaction provides him the platform to sharpen his talent, leave a mark in Los Angeles, and demonstrate the fact that he can live up to his reputation as a former first-round pick.
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