March 13, 2026, 6:04 p.m. ET
The Brooklyn Nets are at the point in their 2025-26 NBA season where they are probably better served to evaluate as many players as possible before this campaign comes to a close. Brooklyn is also dealing with some injuries to key members of the rotation at this time of the year and it looks like they’re adding another player to the evaluation mix.
The Nets are signing guard Malachi Smith to a 10-day contract, according to a report from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto on Friday. Smith will be filling the 15th and final spot on the roster, similar to what forward Grant Nelson did before the team decided to not keep him on a second 10-day deal.
Smith, 26, has spent this entire season with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, and has been having a career season at that level. In 39 games played this season in the G League, Smith is averaging 14.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 52.4% from the field and 42.6% from three-point land.
With the Nets ruling out rookie guard Egor Demin and center Day’Ron Sharpe out for the rest of the season, Brooklyn could be looking for more players to fill minutes and that’s where Smith could come in. The Nets have also ruled out center Nic Claxton and rookie guard Drake Powell out for Saturday’s afternoon game at the Philadelphia 76ers, potentially giving Smith an opportunity to play right away.
As far as why the Nets didn’t give Nelson a second 10-day deal, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported Friday that he will miss the rest of the season with patellar tendinitis. So, Nelson is back within the Nets organization by going back to Long Island, but it looks like Brooklyn is giving Smith a chance to show what he can do over the next week.
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