Nick Smith Jr. Signs Two-Way Deal With Lakers
The Lakers have added Nick Smith Jr. on a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link via Khobi Price of the Orange County Register.
www.yardbarker.comShort answer: Nick Smith Jr. recently earned a standard NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2026 season, transitioning from a two-way deal and solidifying a playoff-ready roster spot. The move was reported in early April 2026 and followed his late-2025 two-way stint, with his new deal spanning two seasons and potentially including team options or protections typical of roster promotions. He expressed excitement about making the playoffs and contributing to the team’s depth.
Further context and key details:
- Source context: Reports indicated the Lakers converted Smith from a two-way contract to a standard two-year deal around April 11–12, 2026, with the possibility of the salary not being fully guaranteed for the 2026–27 season, and the inclusion of a team option in some iterations.[1][2]
- Career notes: Smith was the 27th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and previously spent time with the Hornets before joining the Lakers on a two-way contract in 2025, then earning a standard contract later.[3][4]
- Team impact: The promotion filled the Lakers’ final standard roster spot, providing depth heading into the playoffs and giving Smith his first postseason opportunity.[5][1]
Would you like a brief table summarizing the contract timelines and playing time with the Lakers, or a quick one-paragraph bio of Nick Smith Jr. with emphasis on this contract milestone? I can also pull the latest quotes from Smith and team sources if you want. Citations for the above come from multiple outlet reports around April 2026 documenting the contract conversion and its implications.[2][1][5]