3. Familiarity
Smith has played with LeBron James. They won a title together in 2016, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the Finals to beat the Warriors. So Bron knows where Smith struggles and where he excels.
I believe that familiarity gives him a leg up on earning a roster spot. Bron likes having guys who can shoot and Smith is able to do that, albeit last year where there were a lot of inconsistencies.
LeBron knows where to find Smith. Their chemistry isn’t top-notch, but Smith played a huge part in that Cavaliers championship. He carved out a nice role and earned himself a nice payday after putting together some solid lines.
The Lakers won’t ask Smith to do much. Come in off the bench, chip in scoring and play tough on defense. He has done that in his career, so it wouldn’t be asking him to step out of his comfort zone.
Despite a blunder in the 2018 playoffs, LeBron seemed to enjoy playing with Smith. There was nothing to contradict that. That could go far in helping Smith land in Los Angeles.