The top 3 picks were a consensus top 3 pick in most scouting departments. Any one of them had a stake for going number 1 overall, at which point fit and team preferences were in play. For the Rockets, the best fit was beyond a shadow of a doubt Smith, but any of the top 3 would have helped. Most fans here knew that Banchero and Segune kind of overlapped a bit, so the fit wasn’t perfect. Not to say Banchero wasn’t worth of being the number 1 pick. The Magic and Oklahoma had their own team strength and preferences. i think a lot of folks saw that Jabari was the best fit for the magic and the Rockets. I don’t know if the Rockets being ecstatic to at least get one of the big 3 swayed the Magic into thinking that Banchero was a better player than a mere fit of the top 3 guys in the draft. I expect all top 3 picks to be perennial all stars, with any of the three being eventual MVP candidates at various points in their careers. I think Chet will win various defensive player of the year awards assuming he get back to his health.
Wiggins does so much more than Smith without being able to shoot the same percentage, and Wiggins had at least a serviceable 3 pointer since his 3rd year and has been increasing since. Wiggins is much better laterally than Smith and has always been a great defender, we are projecting all of that with Smith. Smith has a 1 inch better Wingspan than Wiggins and Wiggins is much more explosive offensively and defensively. Can you explain how Jabari's ceiling is much higher when the only thing he does better than Wiggins is shoot the 3?
This place has turned relatively toxic so knowing that before most exchanges is important. Modifying quotes to suit an argument is just more of the same from all angles of the world today. Doesn't really bother me at all since Im comfortable with myself first and foremost. I'm not here for likes or for an ego boost. I love the team and I always root for and support any player that comes along - sometimes to a fault, but its how I prefer to fan. Jabari is a special talent as is. If you can count on him to be as good as he's been thus far with his current skill package its a win. He doesn't need to be a combination of Michael Jordan and Ray Allen .. he needs to become the best version of Jabari Smith Jr. in all aspects of life. Can he become a better ball handler? Of course! I've never said he couldn't. Optimism is essential to achievement and for those that would like that olive branch for Jabari they should in turn offer the same to every other player on the team. Logically there are concerns because his particular weakness is usually something that players develop early in life. Pointing out the few instances of the reverse only shows how rare it is. Still nothing wrong with him not becoming a globetrotter with his handle. Still for reasons only known to those who would rather attack and clash it becomes a game of favorites when ultimately everyone wants the same thing. Its okay to identify weaknesses because otherwise how do you really improve in anything that you do? Im not sure I follow the sentiment that in making a basic observation that is pretty easily verified that it comes from a place of hate or that it closes the door on any future event or progression and I dont think anyone who has similar questions has ever pigeon holed Jabari like that its all faux outrage in trying to divide the fanbase IMO. Us vs Them yet we're all on the same team! Jabari was not my first choice, but I'm ecstatic he's a Houston Rocket! If the guys who were in his corner from day 1 feel better about doing so I can understand that too and I congratulate them for being rewarded in their support. I can only hope that they garner even more happiness and success in life away from their basketball picks working out if an ego boost is what they need.
Nobody has said he will be stuck at anything, stop straw manning. The only thing negative said about Smith has been his inability to create his own shot and not finishing at the rim at a high percent and nobody has said he cannot improve. Stop with the falsehoods.
While I don’t want to argue your point - why Wiggins? I don’t think they are very comparable. Wiggins big strength for a long time has been his athleticism while his shot wasn’t that great (his efg% was worse than Greens rookie season for every year until he came to GSW). I would think it is way easier to compare Jabari to any tall 3&D player or at least tall players that are shooters first and foremost. That being said, if Jabari manages to turn into todays Wiggins (output wise) in a couple of years I would be happy.
That "only thing negative" is literally the ONLY weakness anyone is pointing out. So if you constantly imply that he will NEVER be a number one option because of that, aren't you saying that he is going to be stuck at what he is now? That's not a strawman.
IF thats his only weakness why are you all freaking out? Seems like he's almost perfect why do you all need every comment about him to be nice and sweet and yet many of you dont practice that same courtesy for other players on the team? Are you really that insecure?
I brought up the fact that most on here continue to say Wiggins is a bust but think Smith is going to be a superstar, I said that months ago and people are still trying to call me out about it. I agree the comparisons are not great because Wiggins is so much more than a 3&D yet for some reason he is graded much harder when he was only drafted 2 spots higher in a much weaker draft. I agree that Wiggins was terribly inefficient and has benefited greatly by not being a primary option, but he has always had more skill than Smith and has always been a great defender, but for some reason it's an insult to compare them? How do you think Smith would fair in that same situation in Minnesota?
You act like it's not a big weakness, yes it's the only weakness, but it's a huge weakness for somebody picked top 3 who is usually thought to be a franchise player. It's like some of you all have never watched basketball before, he can't dribble, and he does not finish at the rim at a high percent, but that's not a weakness that should matter?
Who is freaking out? Who is being insecure? I was just laughing at you guys who believe a 22 year-old below average 3rd year guy will certainly become a star in a year, but do not believe that a 19-year old rookie will ever overcome his weakness.
Ahhh there it is! See you are insecure because you have to allude to the positivity offered for KPJ and somehow feel threatened when YOUR guy is being criticized. Is age 19 really that different from age 22? Im sure you just fully developed into a man in 3 years right? You cant see the hypocrisy in your own words?
This has been discussed countless times. I am not going to repeat again and again what many posters including myself have posted. It is certainly a weakness, an important one if you want a perfect player. But (1) it should not be a foregone conclusion for a player as young as him (like you always imply) that he will not be able to overcome this weakness, and (2) even if this weakness persists, that may prevent him from being a generational kind of guy but it certain does have to limit him to be a so-called glorified role player (again as you constantly imply). Jabari already possesses skills and talent that can make him at least a second option on a contender. So if is his weakness important? Yes and no. Yes, it would limit him from being an MVP type guy. No, it wouldn't limit him from being an elite two-way player. BTW, from all reports so far, he looks like a hard working hungry kid. Work ethic is often the difference between success and failure.
Yes. If you think it is not, then I have nothing to say. You are a hypocrite if you don't think KPJ now is much better than he was when he's 19.
Why because you get to chug beers at 22? You dont have to say anything else trust me I already know how favoritism is playing into your mindset. You - "I didnt know players were defined at age 19" Me - "I didnt know boys became men at 22" What age range is considered a players prime by the way? Hint - it doesnt encapsulate the 3 earliest years of their career.
I added something in my previous post. Do you think KPJ is much better now than when he was 19? Yes or no?
