The Brooklyn Nets have signed guard Malachi Smith to a 10-day contract, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto, who reported the agreement Friday citing league sources.
Smith earned the opportunity after a productive stretch with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate. The guard averaged 14.4 points, 5.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range.
The Nets enter the move amid a rebuilding season. Brooklyn sits 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 17-49 record and has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Short-term deals late in the season often serve as evaluation opportunities. Teams use them to assess players who have performed well in the G League or within their development system.
Smith’s efficiency with Long Island helped elevate his case for a call-up. In 10 G League games this season, he averaged 10.2 points in 22.6 minutes while shooting 59.7 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.
The Nets have relied heavily on scoring from Michael Porter Jr. this season. Porter leads the roster with 24.2 points per game while also averaging 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Brooklyn has also received steady interior production from Nic Claxton, who is averaging 12.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists while shooting 57.6 percent from the field.
Smith previously played across multiple levels before joining Brooklyn’s G League system. His 2023-24 campaign with the Rip City Remix produced 15.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in nearly 30 minutes.
The following season with the Memphis Hustle saw him average 11.3 points and 3.6 assists.
