EL SEGUNDO — On the eve of the team’s Media Day on Monday , the Lakers added a recent first-round pick to their roster.

The Lakers announced on Monday morning that they signed 2023 first-round pick Nick Smith Jr. to a two-way contract .

Smith, the 21-year-old guard whom the Charlotte Hornets selected out of Arkansas with the No. 27 pick in the 2023 draft, averaged 9.9 points (39.1% shooting – 34% on 3-pointers), 2.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 60 games (27 starts) for the Hornets in 2024-25.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Smith joins 7-foot center Christian Koloko and 6-foot-4 guard Christian Manon as the Lakers’ three players signed to two-way deals.

Smith averaged eight points (39.1% shooting – 36.9% on 3s), 1.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 111 games (27 starts) across his two seasons wi

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