After being unexpectedly waived by the Charlotte Hornets last week, former first-round pick Nick Smith Jr. has signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 21-year-old guard became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers, and according to a report from ESPN, he will now split his time between the Lakers’ main roster and their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
Charlotte selected Smith Jr. with the 27th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. A former five-star recruit out of Arkansas, he signed a multi-year deal with the Hornets but struggled to find a consistent role.
In his rookie season, Smith Jr. appeared in 51 games off the bench, averaging 5.9 points. While his overall field goal percentage was just 39%, he showed promise by shooting an impressive 43% from three-point range. However, his efficiency declined in his sophomore campaign. Though his scoring increased to 9.9 points per game over 60 appearances, his field goal percentage remained below 40%, and his three-point accuracy dropped to 34%.
These persistent struggles with efficiency on a rebuilding Hornets team ultimately led to his release. The new two-way deal with Los Angeles provides Smith Jr. a valuable opportunity to continue his development while remaining close to an NBA roster.
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