Jabari Smith Jr. is the Rockets' franchise player

I have high expectations because i want and need them to succeed. Jabari has been getting hunted on defense in the clippers and kings loses but tonight his defense was wonderful

 

Jabari is probably faster than 37 year old KD honestly. Not the younger version.

He'll never be KD, that's obvious at this point, but I'm okay with him trying to learn some of the things KD does. Especially the midrange game. Jabari's percentage from 10-16ft dating back to the beginning of last season is 48.4%. Most players shouldn't be taking those shots, but if you're flirting with 50% on them, I'm cool with it. And any 6'11" player who has even the slightest ballhandling ability should be looking to drive and dunk it when the open lane is there.

 

Jabari had a pretty good game tonight. Nice bounce back from the absolute trash he put up the previous game

 

No idea. Saw on reddit and wanted to add to the drama here

 

I don’t get your argument. None of those guys is ever going to leave their team. Of course, the Rocket would trade JSJ and all there eligible draft picks for any one of those 3, but it takes two to tango. Maybe Ant would be gettable with all our draft picks. Who else? Giannis doesn’t fit unless you remove Sengun or Amen and would certainly not be worth all our future draft picks. JSJ would not be the lynchpin in any scenario, it would be the draft picks. Please give real trade possibilities that make sense for both teams using Jabari, FVV, and picks and then I’ll be willing to argue the merits. Jabari is not untouchable, but the assets returning have to be cost effective when Amen gets around to signing his max and Sengun gets his raise to max. With the new 2nd apron rules having 3 max contracts and fielding a decent group around them is next to impossible.

 

JSJ was 42.7% from all mid-range last season as his closer and longer mid-range shots were off, while he had a career season from 10-16. This season, he's 43.9% from midrange while hitting his closer and longer mid-range shots better than last season, but his 10-16 footers have regressed to 45.5% this season, consistent with his career averages. Considering JSJ's mid-range shots are well below the average efficiency of Rockets half-court shots, and even his career year 10-16 last year was just close to breaking even with efficiency, JSJ should only use the mid-range shots for development purposes, when open, or the end of the clock.

 

Yes to this. He needs to keep taking them for development purposes, hopefully not in close games unless he is on fire.

 

I don't have a perfect vision of the future, but players better than JSJ are likely to become available during JSJ's extension. I never said JSJ had to be the linchpin. I just think that there are players like Ant (i.e., better than JSJ that aren't JSJ clones) out there that will become available (not necessarily Ant), such that the Rockets would be willing to trade him. You can say you are not willing to argue the merits, but you are doing it already. The issues with trading JSJ will be on things other than JSJ is a fit for the Rockets and said player's contracr. Saying it is not worth all our future picks (I never said every trade would need every pick) is agreeing with my position that there are players better than JSJ that the Rockets would deal JSJ for that aren't just better versions of JSJ.

On three max contracts, I would be very happy if the Rockets had to decide on which max contracts to keep. That said, Amen is likely going to be capped at 25% with Sengun locked in to under 25% for most of JSJ's extension. I would not worry too much about the Rockets having so many players on good contracts in 2030 that they have to trade a star player so they can keep their team together. As such, the contract issue is bullshit.

The Rockets not wanting to do a deal because the other team wants too many picks or the player is too old for the price is not the Rockets saying no because JSj is too good a fit. Please go ahead and argue even though you say you won't (even though you already are, despite your protest that you aren't).

JSJ is not untouchable for players better than him that aren't just better versions of him. For the most part, the player's contract won't be an issue until 2030. If someone like Ant becomes available, and the other team wants JSJ, the Rockets will not reject the deal solely because of JSJ's inclusion.

 

His mid-range game in terms of shooting is fine. He really just need to learn from KD on how to handle the ball to get to his spots without turning it over. KD's handles being 37yr old 7 footer after career-altering injury is absolutely insane. If Jabari can even handle the ball at current KD's level he would be a 20ppg scorer.

 

I think that Jabari Smith Jr is showing that he’s got a high floor. Albeit, his ceiling is beginning to show as well, and it’s about 3rd best player on a good team level.

But he’s the type of guy that provides the foundation so that Superstar players can thrive.

 

We have not seen the worst or the best of him.....(the worst so far being his Rookie Wall) other than that.

 

I think he’s the 4th best on a championship squad.

 

At this point, I’m not sure what we are debating so I’ll stop.

 

Yeah an argument can be made that on this team he is currently in top 4. Clearly Sengun and Durant are the superstars, with Amen right behind them as a sky the limit talent; those 3 are obviously the top 3 players on the team.

The great thing about Jabari is he has a high basketball IQ, has the ideal body and frame, is coachable, has a very good shot, plays defense and offense at legit NBA quality level; plus given his age he can still make strides.

The reason I say a top 3 is because he doesn’t demand the ball like the majority of superstars. He plays within the game plan set by the coach, and is content getting himself open and making himself available as the a potential open shot for his teammates. His mid game can still get better, as now he looks plenty NBA strong to contend against the trees!

 

I think it is pretty clear that it revolves around this statement that I quoted: "With the way this team is built, the only guys you could reasonably replace him with would also need to be a tall two-way stretch 4/5, just a better version than Jabari."

I take this as JSJ is viewed as untouchable in trades for players better than him unless the player is just a better version of JSJ. Arguments on contracts, the other team would not do the deal at this very second, linchpin, centerpiece, the number of picks required are just strawman arguments created by you and others to confuse this point. Maybe "lots" in my response was too heavy, but I don't expect JSJ being untouchable to be a reason the Rockets don't trade for a player better than JSJ in the next 5 years.

I'll stop now.

 

No - just no

See point #1 but multiplied

 

You named 3 absolutely elite defenders, I haven’t seen that level of defensive impact from Jabari.

 

I agree if we are talking about current Jabari. I still have some hope, granted these days it's not a lot of hope, that he can develop enough to be some lesser version of a "tall Klay" that people comped during the draft. That version of him would make be a 3rd guy on a title team. But yeah, as he is right now he's probably 4th or 5th guy.

 

Bari is not remotely in the same league as any of these guys. Not remotely.

Lu Dort is an elite point of attack defender and massively improved his 3 pt shooting since entering the league (though his shooting % has slipped significantly this year). He also plays much bigger than his size.

Derrick White has elite basketball IQ, can run an offense either as a primary or secondary playmaker and finds a way to be involved in every play even when he doesn't touch the ball or defend the guy with the ball.

Aaron Gordon has elite explosiveness (even after injuries he can still throw down over anyone), plays bigger than his size and has developed a 3 pt shoot since entering the league.

None of these guys are elite enough scorers to be a superstar, but they are elite at their specialties and have shown significant growth over the course of their careers. By comparison, Jabari isn't elite at anything and hasn't shown the tools to be elite at anything. He's a guy who can hit a jumper if he's wide open, grab a few boards and who moves his feet well as a perimeter defender. But he isn't elite at any of his strengths.

And let's be real - Jabari has stepped into a support role precisely because he's not elite (or even very good) at anything. What else would he do?