The Lakers are promoting guard Nick Smith Jr. from his two-way deal to a standard NBA contract, his agent told Shams Charania of ESPN.
Smith will receive a two-year deal, giving Los Angeles another depth option heading into the playoffs.
A former first-round pick in 2023, Smith landed with the Lakers shortly before the season after being waived by the Hornets during a roster crunch. He hasn’t played a major role at the NBA level, averaging 6.0 points in 12.3 minutes across 29 games, but has shown flashes of efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc.
He’s been more productive in the G League, posting 19.7 points and 5.0 assists per game with South Bay.
The promotion makes Smith eligible for the postseason, with the Lakers already securing home-court advantage in the first round. Their final seeding — No. 3 or No. 4 — will be determined Sunday.
Los Angeles created the roster spot by waiving Kobe Bufkin on Friday, opening the door for Smith to fill the 15th and final spot.
The deal is expected to include a non-guaranteed salary for next season, and potentially a team option.
Low-risk move, and at this stage of the year, a little extra backcourt depth doesn’t hurt.
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