The Los Angeles Lakers have officially signed Nick Smith Jr. to a two-way contract following his waiving by the Charlotte Hornets. When Smith joins the Lakers in the upcoming season, he's going to bring a combination of youth and shot-making ability that no other player on the roster in Los Angeles does.
The first fun fact we have to start with is that Smith originally chose the number eight while playing with the Hornets in honor of Kobe Bryant. That alone should make Lakers fans love him right from the jump. But then when we get to the on-court fit, there's quite a bit to be excited about as well.
Nick is a versatile young guard, with an exciting array of offensive moves in his repertoire. He's not anywhere close to a finished product, and there's plenty of reason to believe that with a little time and coaching, he could truly turn into an exciting player in this league.
At 21 years old, Smith is going to have an interesting combo of immediate scoring ability and room to grow over time. His deep shooting range and ability to create shots off the bounce will give the Lakers a guy with the kind of high ceiling that few veterans on the roster can truly match.
Nick Smith Jr. will prove to be an excellent two-way signing
A lot of LA's current roster is formed around veterans, three-and-D types, and playmaking wings. It's Smith's youth, aggressive scoring instincts, and creation abilities that make him such an interesting contrast from the rest of this group.
With Nick playing on a two-way deal, the Lakers will be able to allow him to develop and let him grow into a proper role without committing a full roster spot or a large amount of salary to him. Essentially, it's a win-win situation. If he ends up reaching his potential, it was the perfect gamble for the Lakers to make. If he struggles, the cost of failure in this situation isn't so bad.
It's going to be a situation where Smith can gradually earn minutes, learn behind veterans, and have the potential to eventually become a piece of JJ Redick's rotation. And on top of everything else, he's going to have some added motivation beneath his wings as he moves forward, given that Charlotte just cut him loose after only two years.
Overall, this was a very smart move for the Lakers to make right as training camp is set to begin. Nick Smith Jr. gives this team a young guard with real scoring upside on a low-risk deal, and if he can carve out a role, he could become one of the more pleasant surprises of the season in Los Angeles.