AUGUST 7: The Hornets have officially signed Smith, the team announced today in a press release. Based on the order in which Charlotte completed its roster moves this week, it looks like the team signed Smith using its room exception after using up all its cap space.
AUGUST 3: The Hornets have agreed to sign free agent point guard Ish Smith, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Charania reports (via Twitter) that it’s a two-year deal, with a team option on the second year. Smith will earn $4.5MM in the first year, Charania adds.
Smith, a Charlotte native, has spent the last two seasons in D.C. as a backup point guard for the Wizards. The 33-year-old averaged 6.7 PPG, 3.9 APG, and 3.4 RPG in 44 games (21.0 MPG) in 2020/21, with a shooting line of .434/.367/.576.
While the Hornets have LaMelo Ball atop their point guard depth chart and Terry Rozier as a strong second option, those two guards often share the court, so Charlotte needed to add a reliable backup after agreeing to send Devonte’ Graham to New Orleans in a sign-and-trade deal. It looks like the team has landed on Smith to fill that role.
The Wizards, meanwhile, are making major changes to their point guard position this offseason, as Russell Westbrook will be traded to the Lakers and Smith won’t be back. Washington has agreed to acquire Aaron Holiday from Indiana and is also finalizing a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Spencer Dinwiddie.
Hard to believe a guy that such a decent backup point guard is so horrendous at the free-throw line.
What kind of Ish is this?
When absolutely everyone else goes to Lakers and Heat.
The hornet get this ish