Lakers Reportedly Sign SG to New Contract amid Luka Doncic, Reaves Injuries Before NBA Playoffs
The Los Angeles Lakers need backcourt depth heading into the playoffs with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sidelined by injuries, and they reportedly added some for multiple years with Nick Smith Jr.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Sunday that Los Angeles signed Smith to a two-year contract.
There was an open playoff roster spot for the Lakers after they elected to waive Kobe Bufkin, and Smith will be the one to fill it.
Since two-way players are not eligible for the postseason, Los Angeles had to upgrade his contract for him to be allowed to take the court in the postseason. It did just that on the final day of the regular season.
Smith appeared in 29 games for the Lakers this season and averaged 6.0 points, 1.0 assist and 0.3 steals while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep. But the Arkansas product has seen more action of late with Dončić and Reaves out and flashed some of his potential.
He scored 11 points in 12 minutes in Tuesday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and then finished with 12 points in 11 minutes in Thursday's win over the Golden State Warriors.
While Smith remains a secondary contributor and likely isn't someone who is going to swing a playoff series, his three-point shooting and ability to provide an offensive spark in a handful of minutes provides valuable depth.
And the Lakers need plenty of that with two of their primary options sidelined.
