The Lakers Are Watching History Repeat Itself
Los Angeles is approaching the same verdict Charlotte reached regarding Nick Smith Jr. a year ago: it is time to part ways. This summer, the franchise must determine whether to exercise Smith Jr.’s team option. The choice appears straightforward. Charlotte executed its decision last fall by releasing Smith Jr. prior to the 2025-26 campaign. The organization selected him 27th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, yet he never established stability in the purple and teal.
Los Angeles has now reached a similar conclusion. Smith Jr. failed to evolve into the prospect the front office envisioned. Occasional highlights have not compensated for the underlying issues. Indicators suggest the Lakers will decline his option, permitting him to enter free agency. Such a move would close the book on a once-hyped career. The Hornets identified Smith Jr. as a draft bust following his second professional season.
Why The Numbers Don’t Add Up
During his tenure with Charlotte, Smith Jr. posted averages of 8.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists across 18.9 minutes per contest. For a young rotational guard, these figures appear acceptable initially. However, deeper analysis reveals accumulating concerns. His sophomore year featured a sharp decline in shooting efficiency. After shooting an impressive 43.2 percent from three-point range as a rookie, he dropped to just 34.0 percent from deep, according to Swarm and Sting. For a guard whose value relies heavily on scoring, such a drop in efficiency is difficult to overlook.
Upon entering the league, Smith was touted as a high-upside combo guard. The problem was that his skillset never expanded beyond scoring. In Charlotte, the limitations of this playstyle became evident for a player who lacks elite consistency in that area. A crowded backcourt exacerbated the issue. LaMelo Ball, Collin Sexton, Tre Mann, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Spencer Dinwiddie all provided greater versatility or higher impact. Smith Jr. ultimately became the odd man out.
A Mismatch For The Lakers Timeline
Regardless of the framing, being waived in your second season as a first-round pick invites the draft bust label. At 6’2″, with average playmaking and negative defensive metrics, his floor remained low. The Lakers operate on a different timeline, and Smith Jr. does not fit. Los Angeles is poised to reach the same conclusion, as they possess superior options capable of contributing more than just scoring. Their win-now timeline around LeBron James and Anthony Davis leaves no room for a one-dimensional scorer at this moment.
Smith Jr.’s NBA career is not finished. A viable path forward remains. A two-way contract or a developmental role with a rebuilding squad could work. However, for a contender like the Lakers, he is not the solution. Letting him go appears inevitable. The front office understands the risks of retaining a player who has already demonstrated he cannot be a reliable starter. Moving on enables them to acquire a guard who better suits their specific needs.
