The Los Angeles Lakers concluded the 2025-26 regular season with an apparent hierarchy in the backcourt. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were locked in as the starters, with Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard trailing them as the third and fourth guards. Certainly, that would leave Bronny James at fifth—except it wasn't. Based on minutes per game, it was Nick Smith Jr.
A path was unequivocally cleared for James to secure a bigger role this coming season, however, when the Lakers declined a low-cost team option to bring Smith back for 2026-27.
Smith finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 6.2 points, 1.0 assist, and 1.1 three-point field goals made in 12.5 minutes per game on .435/.395/.733 shooting. Unfortunately, his efficient three-point shooting and offensive eruptions weren't enough to save his roster spot.
According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, the Lakers have declined Smith's $2.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season and he will thus become an unrestricted free agent.
The Los Angeles Lakers declined their team option for Nick Smith Jr., a league source told @spotrac.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 30, 2026
Smith will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
In the process, the Lakers have thinned the guard rotation and seemingly endorsed James for an even bigger role in 2026-27.
Bronny James no longer has to compete for minutes with Nick Smith Jr.
The 2026-27 season told a story that perhaps should've led analysts to the conclusion that James would be prioritized over Smith. For instance: Smith averaged 17.5 minutes per game in December to James' 10.5, and 7.9 in January to James' 4.0.
From that point on, however, James actually surpassed Smith in the rotation if average minutes played is to be viewed as a fair correlation.
Neither played much in February, as they made a combined five appearances, but a message was sent in March. James averaged 9.1 minutes per game, while Smith didn't make a single appearance. Then in April, James averaged 16.8 minutes per game to help the injury-ravaged Lakers close the season out, while Smith received 11.2.
With this in mind, perhaps it was always in the cards for James to be prioritized over Smith in regard to their team options. The bigger picture, however, is that he's now a key part of the rotation.
As it stands, Bronny James is the Lakers' only developing guard
Los Angeles has a known dearth of talent in its developmental pipeline. Of the few up-and-coming players on the roster, James is the only one who fits his upside description as a point guard defender who can ideally build upon a season in which he shot 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.
While James specializes in defending smaller and quicker guards, Cameron Carr is a 6'5" 3-and-D wing, Dalton Knecht is a 6'6" wing scorer, and Adou Thiero is a 6'8" wing defender.
With Smith no longer on the roster, it certainly seems as though James will maintain that role and place in the rotation. With Smart declining his player option, the odds are even stronger that the 21-year-old guard will have a realistic shot at a significant role in 2026-27.
Much could still change between now and the end of free agency, but James seems to have a clear opportunity to solidify his place in the rotation after Smith's option was declined.
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