Nick Smith Jr.?

[JRoy]

Nunn had alot of injury issues.

Yeah, but he is still cooking second best competition in the world now. I get that he is like 6'1, but man he is good. My first thought was actually Wade Baldwin IV, but I have to admit he was not very good when he first arrived in europe, his basketball IQ was really bad, and it is hard to improve that ever, but he is better now, talent was there because he improved so much over the years in Europe, he is completely different player now and seems like NBA might have given up on him too fast also.

We had him in POR for a bit. He looked like a player with sone rough edges.

[UcanUwill]

We had him in POR for a bit. He looked like a player with sone rough edges.

Yeah, I remember Memphis giving up on his after just one year, which was pretty shocking considering he was pretty high draft pick. Then he got a shot in Portland, but couldn't do it. But as I said, he is quite different player now, far more mature basketball wise, when he first started playing in Europe, I though he was very stupid player. It is kinda similar to Mike James, where at first, Mike James was terrible, just a terrible chucker like Euroleagues version of IDK, Jordan Poole. but over the years, his talent caught up with his shot selection and he became a star. Some of these guys drastically improve over the years, but NBA keep resinging scrubs instead, like they just gave Dennis Smith another shot, what did he do to warrant that?

[amcoolio]

He can't defend, lacking in size, and doesn't have burst. Charlotte already has a superior version of him in Tre Mann. And these players are a dime a dozen.

Had high hopes coming out of the draft, but I don't think he has enough tools. Glad he is working out though, seems like a great guy.

[NO-KG-AI]

I thought end of the bench and two way spots were useless though?

[yosemiteben]

He has a pretty sick move of getting into the lane and then doing a nice fadeaway.

With that said, it'll be real tough for him to stick. Hope he works out, but there's a reason we moved on.

[Dr Aki]

Don't forget Austin Reaves was also a two-way player for the Lakers back during the 2021-22 season.

Reaves was a two way contact for a month, was converted to standard context in Sept 21,I'm assuming there were cap related reasons why they started him as a two way.

Reaves was converted because LeBron said the kid was too good to be stuck on a two-way. Pelinka agreed.

At the time, even now, the Lakers use two-way contracts as a training camp competition for remaining 14th/15th spots on roster

[Memories]

The Hornets and letting their guards go only to see them flourish with the Lakers. AKA “The curse of Kobe Bryant” when they traded his draft rights for Vlade Divac.

That team is basically a minor league for the Lakers at this point. Just waiting for one of them to either be called up in a trade, or released from the team to go there. I’m fully expecting either Kon Knueppel or Brandon Miller to go to LA next and watch them become valuable players there.

[Memories]

He has a pretty sick move of getting into the lane and then doing a nice fadeaway.

With that said, it'll be real tough for him to stick. Hope he works out, but there's a reason we moved on.

I mean…no offense (and I truly mean that too), but Hornets are not exactly known as a competent organization. That’s like saying “but there’s a reason we moved on” in regards to the Mavs trading Luka Doncic (no I am not comparing both those players for those that will try to strawman).

[yosemiteben]

He has a pretty sick move of getting into the lane and then doing a nice fadeaway.

With that said, it'll be real tough for him to stick. Hope he works out, but there's a reason we moved on.

I mean…no offense (and I truly mean that too), but Hornets are not exactly known as a competent organization. That’s like saying “but there’s a reason we moved on” in regards to the Mavs trading Luka Doncic (no I am not comparing both those players for those that will try to strawman).

If you could point to a history of us moving on and guys turning it around, you'd have a point. Right now the only example is a guy that moved on because he, by his own admission, didn't take the game seriously while he was here (Monk).

[tamaraw08]

exert from what i posted on hornets board

This is nothing new from nick. We all know he can have an outlier red hot shooting night from time to time. If you put the ball in his hands enough and give him enough shots he's occasionally going to have a game like this. Microwave scoring is what he does. But this only happens in a situation where the Lakers top three ball handlers and scores are out. There's no other situation where he gets this much usage. It's a great story for him. But barring an incredible barrage of injuries, he goes right back to his role of 10th to 12th man after this game.

Best case scenario is he's a dude that you throw in the game when you're down 15 hoping that he can randomly get hot and get you back in a game. Otherwise he's not really bringing enough to keep him on the floor.

he's not a plus defender
he's undersized for 2, cant play the 1
his first instinct is to always dribble/iso
he can get hot but needs usage

best case is he hones in on becoming a catch/shoot corner 3 guy or what i said, a microwave guy you turn to when you need a spark, then hope he gets hot.

he hustles and is likeable and he can get randomly hot from time to time...

Okay, so they waive this 21 year old kid who was giving them 13-14pts/game so..... they could trade for a 6-3 chucker who also is not an A+ defender giving them 16pts/game from Utah so they could pay him 19 Million dollars this year.
but okay that 2030 SRP addition must be worth it.

[PushDaRock]

Somehow he managed to put up a 51 TS% season his rookie year while shooting 43% from 3. Not sure how that's even possible.

[JellosJigglin]

He's only a 3rd year player and 21 years old. Seems really early to be giving up on a guy who has shown some flashes.

He isn't going to sustain this kind of shooting but seems like a good project to keep around.

[Dr Aki]

Look, he's had a nice efficient shooting night. And he's proven to be a 10ppg scorer in the NBA. He's got good speed to be able to get to his spots and the Blazers weren't expecting that sort of production and were caught unawares.

But he's still an undersized combo guard that was cut from the Hornets because they didn't see much playing time for him. He keeps this up, he'll be converted to a full contract sooner it later, but I don't see it happening anytime soon unless the Lakers make a consolidation trade of some sort.

[Edrees]

he gives the lakers one thing they need, someone who creates their own shot off the bench. I'm sure they'll be using him solidly through the season due to the injuries.

Isn't there a Lakers board for these kind of topics?

did you post the same thing about san antonio board anytime there's a wemby topic?

[ItsDanger]

he gives the lakers one thing they need, someone who creates their own shot off the bench. I'm sure they'll be using him solidly through the season due to the injuries.

Isn't there a Lakers board for these kind of topics?

did you post the same thing about san antonio board anytime there's a wemby topic?

You're attempting to equate Wemby to Nick Smith Jr.? Ridiculous.

[fatlever]

exert from what i posted on hornets board

This is nothing new from nick. We all know he can have an outlier red hot shooting night from time to time. If you put the ball in his hands enough and give him enough shots he's occasionally going to have a game like this. Microwave scoring is what he does. But this only happens in a situation where the Lakers top three ball handlers and scores are out. There's no other situation where he gets this much usage. It's a great story for him. But barring an incredible barrage of injuries, he goes right back to his role of 10th to 12th man after this game.

Best case scenario is he's a dude that you throw in the game when you're down 15 hoping that he can randomly get hot and get you back in a game. Otherwise he's not really bringing enough to keep him on the floor.

he's not a plus defender
he's undersized for 2, cant play the 1
his first instinct is to always dribble/iso
he can get hot but needs usage

best case is he hones in on becoming a catch/shoot corner 3 guy or what i said, a microwave guy you turn to when you need a spark, then hope he gets hot.

he hustles and is likeable and he can get randomly hot from time to time...

Okay, so they waive this 21 year old kid who was giving them 13-14pts/game so..... they could trade for a 6-3 chucker who also is not an A+ defender giving them 16pts/game from Utah so they could pay him 19 Million dollars this year.
but okay that 2030 SRP addition must be worth it.

1. nsj Averaged 10 points a game last year. I assume by your "13 to 14 points per game" comment you're referring to post All Star break when the entire Hornets team, outside of Miles Bridges, was out injured. So yes, when nsj was leading the "Greensboro Swarm" AKA The Hornets post All Star break last year he did average 12 points a game on a very inefficient 38%fg/34%3pt on 21% usage, While doing basically little else on the offensive end and being an all around minus defender. So none of that contradicts my point that if given a high usage role as a primary creator he is capable of having scoring outbursts, albeit rarely efficiently, up to this point.

2. nsj and sexton have very different roles with the Hornets with the latter mostly serving as Lamelo's back up. The Hornets have not had a serviceable backup point guard in several years, while at the same time having one of the most injury prone point guards in the league. And getting a veteran point guard behind Lamelo was a priority for the front office. And it's already needed since Lamelo is already missing games again with his Ankle. So it's apples to oranges. But even in the role of combo guard, there's a pretty big difference between Colin Sexton and nsj.

3. Paying Colin Sexton $19 million is irrelevant. It's not like we signed him to a contract in free agency. We traded a similar contract in nurkic for sexton. Either way we were on the hook for paying someone $19 million.

The Hornets had a roster crunch and had to cut some players. If anyone wants to point fingers at the Hornets for cutting someone they should have kept around it's Josh okogie who is starting for the Rockets. The Hornets drafted three rookies that would compete with nsj for minutes. Going into the season he was firmly behind: melo, miller, kon, sexton, mann, sion - As each of those six were either obviously better players, getting paid more or served a role that was more needed this season. then you add liam, kj simpson and josh green to the mix - A first round pick who the Hornets obviously want to get a look at, another vet defender who adds something that the Hornets needed more than another microwave combo guard And KJ Who has a specific role as a 3rd string point guard and who frankly was more needed. They also added Antonio Reeves as a two way another shooting guard who had some pretty good games with the Pelicans last year and is a better three point shooter. Bottom line, there simply was no path to playing time for him this year on the roster so the Hornets did him a solid and cut him To allow him to sign with another team.

There's no real hard feelings. It didn't work out for the Hornets but he's a very likable dude and if he improves his defense and becomes more consistent offensively he'll carve out a role. As crazy as it sounds there's a much better path for him to get consistent playing time with the Lakers than there was with the Hornets, just beat out bronny and knecht.

[tamaraw08]

exert from what i posted on hornets board



he's not a plus defender
he's undersized for 2, cant play the 1
his first instinct is to always dribble/iso
he can get hot but needs usage

best case is he hones in on becoming a catch/shoot corner 3 guy or what i said, a microwave guy you turn to when you need a spark, then hope he gets hot.

he hustles and is likeable and he can get randomly hot from time to time...

Okay, so they waive this 21 year old kid who was giving them 13-14pts/game so..... they could trade for a 6-3 chucker who also is not an A+ defender giving them 16pts/game from Utah so they could pay him 19 Million dollars this year.
but okay that 2030 SRP addition must be worth it.

1. nsj Averaged 10 points a game last year. I assume by your "13 to 14 points per game" comment you're referring to post All Star break when the entire Hornets team, outside of Miles Bridges, was out injured. So yes, when nsj was leading the "Greensboro Swarm" AKA The Hornets post All Star break last year he did average 12 points a game on a very inefficient 38%fg/34%3pt on 21% usage, While doing basically little else on the offensive end and being an all around minus defender. So none of that contradicts my point that if given a high usage role as a primary creator he is capable of having scoring outbursts, albeit rarely efficiently, up to this point.

2. nsj and sexton have very different roles with the Hornets with the latter mostly serving as Lamelo's back up. The Hornets have not had a serviceable backup point guard in several years, while at the same time having one of the most injury prone point guards in the league. And getting a veteran point guard behind Lamelo was a priority for the front office. And it's already needed since Lamelo is already missing games again with his Ankle. So it's apples to oranges. But even in the role of combo guard, there's a pretty big difference between Colin Sexton and nsj.

3. Paying Colin Sexton $19 million is irrelevant. It's not like we signed him to a contract in free agency. We traded a similar contract in nurkic for sexton. Either way we were on the hook for paying someone $19 million.

The Hornets had a roster crunch and had to cut some players. If anyone wants to point fingers at the Hornets for cutting someone they should have kept around it's Josh okogie who is starting for the Rockets. The Hornets drafted three rookies that would compete with nsj for minutes. Going into the season he was firmly behind: melo, miller, kon, sexton, mann, sion - As each of those six were either obviously better players, getting paid more or served a role that was more needed this season. then you add liam, kj simpson and josh green to the mix - A first round pick who the Hornets obviously want to get a look at, another vet defender who adds something that the Hornets needed more than another microwave combo guard And KJ Who has a specific role as a 3rd string point guard and who frankly was more needed. They also added Antonio Reeves as a two way another shooting guard who had some pretty good games with the Pelicans last year and is a better three point shooter. Bottom line, there simply was no path to playing time for him this year on the roster so the Hornets did him a solid and cut him To allow him to sign with another team.

There's no real hard feelings. It didn't work out for the Hornets but he's a very likable dude and if he improves his defense and becomes more consistent offensively he'll carve out a role. As crazy as it sounds there's a much better path for him to get consistent playing time with the Lakers than there was with the Hornets, just beat out bronny and knecht.

You made valid points but I just would like to know the logic of getting rid Nick Richards then trading both Williams and Nurkic.
I'm not saying these guys are great Centers but they are all decent but can't they at least keep 1 as their back center?
My other question is, what what they hoping to see from NSJ when they used their relatively valuable 27th overall pick on him?
The kid is 6-2 and just averaged 12pts 1.7 assists and UNDER 34% from the 3pt line... and then he put up 14 pts post allstar and then waive him?

[HotRocks34]

He has real talent.

[fatlever]

You made valid points but I just would like to know the logic of getting rid Nick Richards then trading both Williams and Nurkic.
I'm not saying these guys are great Centers but they are all decent but can't they at least keep 1 as their back center?
My other question is, what what they hoping to see from NSJ when they used their relatively valuable 27th overall pick on him?
The kid is 6-2 and just averaged 12pts 1.7 assists and UNDER 34% from the 3pt line... and then he put up 14 pts post allstar and then waive him?

1. what what they hoping to see from NSJ when they used their relatively valuable 27th overall pick on him?
- Its important to remember that nsj was drafted by a previous front office. That was the Mitch Kupchak Michael Jordan front Office. That 27th pick was actually the end result of one of the dumbest trades the Hornets have ever made. We traded the 13th pick (jalen duren) To the Pistons for what ended up being the Nuggets pick the next year. Mitch said they didn't have room on the roster for two rookies and they ultimately went with Mark Williams who they picked 15th. Of course the reason we didn't have room for rookies was because there was 4 draft picks from the previous year eating up roster space, none of which were worth keeping around - bouknight, kai jones, jt thor, mcgowens. It's hard to put into words just how bad the Hornets were run under Mitch's tenure.

All that to say the current front office had no skin in the game with nsj. They gave him an extended look the second half of last year, but I ultimately think it came down to deciding between nsj or tre mann. I'm not really a fan of either. not what the hornets need. hornets need more ball movers, less ball stoppers. hornets need more physicality. kon/sion fit that mold.

2. I just would like to know the logic of getting rid Nick Richards
- richards was another holdover from the Mitch regime. Actually one of the better 2nd round picks he made during his time. Nick was on a fairly team friendly deal so easily tradeable. The new owners and new front office were in asset collection mode. Nick was putting up a lot of empty stats but not really doing much to impact the game. He was also starting to get outplayed by diabate (who i much more prefer to richards). i think "moose" diabate I fit more of the culture shift the new front office was trying to implement.

3. mark williams?
- Well that's the true enigma in all of this and I'm not sure any of us will ever really have a full understanding of what transpired last year regarding Mark, his relationship with the front office, and what was or was not found in his health scans. Mark had barely played the previous 18 months leading up to that Lakers trade. When he did play it was a lot of empty stats He was getting bullied by every center in the league prior to that trade. The stats he was putting up mostly came in the second half after the Hornets were down. I don't know if the front office got tired of waiting on him to get healthy or thought maybe he wasn't taking rehab seriously Or perhaps they just weren't comfortable investing big money given all the question marks surrounding his back and foot and preferred to cash in before they had to pay him. After he came back from the Lakers failed trade it seems that relationship between Mark and the front office had soured so it was not surprising to me to see that he was traded again this summer. Just an unfortunate series of events. Before his back injury his second half of his rookie year he looked like a completely different player. It seems he's finally getting healthy again and playing great for the Suns. Time will tell if the Hornets made a stupid decision on this one.

[bkkrh]

he gives the lakers one thing they need, someone who creates their own shot off the bench. I'm sure they'll be using him solidly through the season due to the injuries.

Isn't there a Lakers board for these kind of topics?

did you post the same thing about san antonio board anytime there's a wemby topic?

The difference being that a lot of posters feel a certain tiredness to have a thread about pretty much every Lakers player that has a handful of decent games, which every other fan base handles as something they discuss in their board.

That there will be 1000 threads about Lebron, Bronny, Luka, granted.

Just for fun I did a search now. There are FORTY threads in the general board that mention Austin Reaves in the subject line. He is currently balling, no question. Otherwise this is an undrafted player in his 5th season that was never more than the 3rd best player on a team that won 50 games once and made it to the Conference Finals once since he is in the league. He made 0 All Star games and averaged 20 points for the first time last season.

And this goes on and on. There´s a thread about how surprisingly solid Ayton is, while he does the exact same thing he does since day one in the league. How about 17 threads with Talen Horton-Tucker in the subject line? Guess how many of those threads were created since he doesn´t play for the Lakers any more? It´s one and the reason was that he had 37 points and almost a triple double in a game.

And the list continues endless. Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, Dalton Knecht, Jaxson Hayes and so on and so on. Now here is a thread about Nick Smith Jr., a player that has played in 5 of 10 games this year and averaged 8 points in 17 minutes. Well actuall he had one really good 25 point game and averaged 3.5 points in the other 4, while shooting 25% from the field and 20% from 3. We definitely need a thread in the general board on him at this point^^.

It´s totally ok to bring attention to a player that is flying under the radar or being better than expected, but pretty much nobody outside the Lakers fan base cares about a player that has one surprisingly good game or a player who has turned into a decent starter or bench player and that´s it.