Lakers News: Nick Smith Jr. Signs Two-Year Contract
The Los Angeles Lakers announced they have officially signed Nick Smith Jr. to a two-year contract with a team option for the 2026-27 season.
lakersnation.comHere’s the latest on Nick Smith Jr.’s contract status.
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Nick Smith Jr. was converted from a two-way contract to a standard NBA contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The arrangement is reported as a two-year deal, with at least one year potentially non-guaranteed and a team option for 2026-27. This move followed his initial two-way stint after being waived by Charlotte and then joining the Lakers late in the 2025 season. [Source: multiple outlets reporting the Lakers’ contract conversion and two-year structure][1][3][4]
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The contract is described as a two-year arrangement that provides the Lakers with continued depth for the backcourt heading into the playoffs, with the exact guarantees and option details varying by report. Some outlets note a non-guaranteed salary for 2026-27 and a possible team option, while others emphasize the two-year standard deal nature. [Sources: Hoops Wire, Yardbarker, Lakers Nation coverage][3][7][1]
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Public reactions and context: Smith expressed excitement about the opportunity to participate in the playoffs with the Lakers after the deal was announced, marking his first playoff experience with the team. [Lakers Nation quotes and player reaction coverage][7][8]
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Salary and financial details vary by source. Reports generally place the contract in the two-year range with a modest guaranteed portion and a possibility of a team option for the 2026-27 season; one site provides a specific figure around the low millions and a non-guaranteed structure, while others describe it in broader terms. If you need precise guaranteed amounts and the exact wording of the team option, I can pull the specific numbers from the linked reports. [Salary information discussions across sources][2][4][5]
Would you like me to pull the most recent exact contract terms (guaranteed money, non-guaranteed status, and team option details) from a primary source or summarize the implications for Nick Smith Jr.’s role and the Lakers’ depth chart? If you’re in a specific location (you’re in Miami, FL), I can also add how this contract status might affect local reporting or related NBA coverage.