The Los Angeles Lakers just got better on Monday thanks to the surprising availability of a talented 21-year old scorer in the free agent pool.
They reached agreement on a two-way contract with Nick Smith Jr., according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Smith isn't exactly a household name, but it's also odd that he was around to be signed in late September.
The Charlotte Hornets drafted Smith No. 27 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Arkansas. He had gone to the Razorbacks as a top-five recruit in the entire country.
The 6-foot-2 guard didn't see much time in his first season with Charlotte, but last season, he averaged 9.9 points and 2.4 assists per game.
Smith is a 36.9% 3-point shooter through two NBA seasons.
MORE: Hawks bring in champion from EuroLeague
The Hornets waived Smith last week rather than pay him $2.7 million in 2025-26.
Smith isn't a great defender given his slight frame, but he's still a potentially useful bench player.
The Lakers will gladly take the infusion of youth, as Smith won't turn 22 until April.
The player this could actually hurt most could be Bronny James, who is at best a bench guard for the Lakers but now has one more player in his way.
The likes of Gabe Vincent and Jordan Goodwin might also be hit negatively by the signing of Smith.
The Lakers will hope Smith can continue improving and live up to more of his recruiting and draft pedigree. He's certainly got potential.
MORE: Celtics sign a former Duke star