Don't disagree. Jabari is a piece like Klay. I'm starting to look at Stone and question his roster construction. I'm guessing they thought that KPj could turn into some sort of Harden/Steph type of player which is a *huge* indictment of Stone as a talent evaluator. The fact that Stone didn't at least go and get a backup veteran point guard means they were all in on the KPj experience and its backfired immensely. Jalen and Jabari need someone to set them up. KPj is absolutely god awful at it.
Jabari was a safe pick. He was listed at the top (1-3) of every draft board I followed. He also was seen as a great fit next to Green. You really can't fault the Rockets for selecting him. Whining about Banchero is pointless. He was already off the board when we made our pick.
Jabari Smith will be a STAR in this league, and there is no doubt. What makes a star? He has elite skills! Porter is an elite shooter and an elite defensive player. First, stop compare him to Kevin Durant, he is not. Coach Lucas compare him to David Robinson....he is not. Right now, he is a Klay Thompson or Michael Porter Jr. comparable, but honestly, he is more of a Michael Porter Jr with elite defensive skills. Michael is averaging 18 points a game and is elite at shooting. He cannot dribble well, seem to be nonathletic and he needs the ball in certain spots. Watching the Nuggets game, Jokic helps him out a lot. Jabari has those same negative traits, but he has elite defensive skills. Jabari should shoot no more than 10 times a game and working on his negative traits (dribbling and making a shot around the basket. Sengun could be our Jokic and give the ball to him in certain spots. We have talent but we do know what we are doing (Coach Silas) -Start Sengun give him the ball 12 to 15 times -Jabari only shoot 10 times a game and try to be an efficient shooter (slow down and take good shots) -Play team defense
I wouldn't fault Stone for drafting Green and Smith. Green and Mobley is a good debate. But Mobley so far is not looking like a franchise type player either. Smith was clearly billed by most people as one of the top 3. Since we are picking 3rd, that's pretty much expected. A few years from now, some players picked later last year and this year might turn out to be greater than all the top 3 guys in both drafts, but that happens to a lot of GMs. Stone wouldn't be looked at as doing specially poorly.
I thought he was the top end talent in the draft and was afraid he might break. It though he was worth the chance. Then after that I had Ivey as a different level athlete. Viewed Smith as a JAG and not an all NBA dude. Really missed the boat on Paulo. Didn’t realize he was going to be this good.
It varies from draft to draft but the general rule of thumb is you hope for a franchise player at #3 but you realize that you only have like a 20-25% chance of that happening. In reality if you get someone that makes multiple all star games, you did well. Everyone talks about the importance of tanking and getting high picks, but it is equally important to have the front office to make the right picks and the coaches to develop the players. Look at the Celtics, they got Tatum and Brown back to back drafts at #3. I don’t think that Jalen Green or Jabari Smith will be busts but I do question if they were the best pick available, especially Green. Green and Smith can potentially be multiple time all stars but their limitations are real and are likely to keep them from being franchise type guys. What happens this draft will be very important. If the Rockets get Vic Wembanya or Scooter Henderson, then they will be in very good shape. I do think the front office and coaching staff is still a question mark.
Hopefully the nerds stop wanting to draft players solely on 3 point percentage. This is a wakeup call for the excel GM's that think they're super smart.
That's probably the issue. He grew an inch since the draft, which is the clear reason why he can't shoot anymore
No Klay was never the shot creator that Pool is now but he has always been a better shot creator than Smith is now even in college so I don't know what comparing Klay to Poole has to do with anything. I really don't understand why people keep bringing Klay into this, he is 10 times the ball handler and finisher that Smith is and was that way in college. I am not saying Smith is a finished product, but he is nothing like Klay as a ball handler.
Jabari was the correct pick at 3 It just appears people were grossly exaggerating his skill level in the pre-draft process. He is a very unskilled player outside
Situation is still salvageable if we let sengun set folks up. Silas and the other players swallowING their pride to allow sengun do it is another story.
I kept saying this leading up to the draft, I really don't know why so many people did not notice this, it's like his jump shot was his 4.2 forty people just ignored everything else and focused on that. I am not out on him but evrything I was worried about has shown to be true and his jumper has not been reliable to boot, OY VAY!
How was his skill level grossly exaggerated? we knew he struggled from 2 in college and it was a struggle off the dribble comps were things like Rashard Lewis with defense…JJJr with a better jumper and maybe less shot blocking Were people saying he’s the next KD or Paul George?
