Nick Smith, Jr., with NBA commissioner Adam Silver at NBA Draft — (Wendell Cruze / USA TODAY Sports)

Everybody Looking for Nick Smith to Make Charlotte's Wait Work

With knee issues out of the way, Hornets saw great value, surprised he was still there

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Jun 24, 2023 3:44 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When the Charlotte Hornets saw Nick Smith still available at No. 27, they were surprised. They wasted little time in taking the Arkansas player in Thursday night's NBA Draft in New York and the emotion flowed from Smith, who had fallen considerably from projections that had him higher.

"There were tears of joy," Smith said Friday with the media in Charlotte. His family was there, too. "It was definitely something my family was waiting on." His freshman season with the Razorbacks had a knee injury that turned it into a season of disappointment for the Jacksonville native who played his last year at North Little Rock ... and Hog fans. "That’s out of the picture. I’m extremely healthy right now."

For the Hornets, they were not expecting him to still be there. General manager Mitch Kupchak has known Hogs coach Eric Musselman for years, going back to the Los Angeles Lakers development team. For the value with the pick (slightly north of $2 million a year for three years, guaranteed) it was something they were glad to see.

"We had him much higher in the draft," Kupchak said Friday. "He’s young, he’s got great size, he’s a shooter. In our league, that’s at a premium. He’s athletic. Last week, I spoke to his college coach, Eric Musselman, about all his players at Arkansas, and Nick was one who he spoke very highly of. We feel very fortunate to get Nick where we did."

Last summer, everyone was expecting him to be a lottery pick. Then the injury and the usual whispering and rumor-mongering from some loud fans. None of that matters now. Smith has learned it's a business now, but everyone kept wondering how far he really could fall as the first round progressed. He's ready to prove it was worth it.

"If that ball’s bouncing, I’m always going to try and be available," Smith said. "Charlotte was willing to take a chance on me. My trust is in Charlotte right now and I’m very thankful that they believed in me. I’m ready to get to work."

Now he will get to do that in Charlotte without any distractions. He'll also have his good buddy Brandon Miller from Alabama (taken earlier in the first round by the Hornets). "He’s an extremely good player," Smith said. "I’ve been working with him ever since we were in high school, and the journey continues. I feel like everything happens for a reason."