Fine. I didn't say I wouldn't trade Jabari in the right situation. Josh Giddey was a better fit in Chicago. I was just saying that the crap he gets on this forum is unjustifiable. He is not a negative asset as some insist.
.42? There were only five players last season who averaged .42 on at least 6 3pa, and four of the five were guards. The only forward was Kon, and he is somewhat of a guard/forward hybrid. In fact, even if you limited the search to forwards who shot .38 from 3 on at least 6 attempts, there is only 12 and Paul George is the tallest at 6'8. I just think this board overstates just how common high level stretch ability is from a 6'11 power forward - it is a very rare trait.
I think we've had this debate before, and we're going to have to agree to disagree because I believe: (1) a dribble pull-up is absolutely a part of Bari's bag; and (2) he would be the primary POA defender on many teams, he just doesn't have to be on the Rockets because of Amen and Eason.
Every one of Jabari's stats, including percentages from both 2p and 3p, are identical to this sophomore season. His major strides simply come from playing a few additional minutes per game than prior seasons. Only 12 forwards in the entire league averaged more than six 3pa per game last season, so that criteria alone puts Jabari in pretty rare company. All of them except for Matas Buzelis shot over 36%, so Jabari isn't exactly a sharpshooter within that category. Out of those 12 forwards he was actually 11th in 3p%. I can see why you chose the 25 or younger category because putting Jabari on a list that includes Royce O'Neale and Sam Hauser looks less impressive. Can we agree that rare does not mean good? Bol Bol's combination of height, efficiency, scoring and block rates were incredibly rare, a list would probably just be him and Wemby. He's not even an NBA player currently. Cherry picking statistical criteria to put Jabari on rare lists says nothing about the actual quality of his game.
My statement wasn’t about hate but disappointment which I clearly said. But you guys can take it however you like…
This post is hilarious. There are LeBron level fanboys in here for jabari smith Jr You guys must drink a lot. He and jalen are by far the most disappointing prospects and high draft picks the rockets have ever had. Both billed as stars both laid eggs. Jabari is like #4 or 5 out of 5 of our young guys. This is true but ofcourse me saying this is treason for some reason. Though its obvious he should have been shipped with jalen and we should have kept dillion. He is in Amens way.
I mean it says something depending on the degree to which the list tracks some intuitive ordering of players! In fact, I think you're the one who is cherry picking stats a bit. True, His percentages are about where they were in year two, but they are substantially above where they were in years 1 and 3! (You seem to be suggesting stagnation, whereas the pattern is just as consistent with improvement having mild noise.) Also, he is taking threes in much higher numbers now (2.3 in 2025-26.) On the other hand, his usage overall is pretty stable. All of this is to say that I think the statistical picture isn't one of steep improvement, but the idea that he's not improving at all is silly. Furthermore, the selection of statistics used to suggest that suggest that there's cherry picking and diminishes the quality/persuasiveness of the argument.
While I agree with you to some extent, I think it's worth mentioning that you are advocating for a player archetype that is largely disappearing from the game. Teams generally are moving towards as many generalists on the floor as possible and the idea of having two players who can play like a big is being supplemented with at least one guy who can play like a big and a few guys who can be "big like" in spurts. Your criticism is valid, but part of how Jabari is used in Ime's scheme is as another perimeter defender so that Alpi(or Adams when available) isn't stuck playing further from the basket where he is almost certain to be exploited so it's going to hurt Jabari's rebounding, shot blocking, and help defense metrics. I think Jabari gets pushed around FAR less than he did earlier in his career now that he has added some strength but I'll agree with you that he doesn't play as tall as you would hope. That being said, he at very least makes sure guys shoot over him and he generally goes a good job of doing that without fouling and he still has enough length to make some decent weak side recovery blocks to at least make defenders think about it. I think he is probably a fairly good PF option in today's NBA - he's not elite, but he is a solid starting 3 and D role player in today's NBA where teams rarely play two bigs at once and if they do, we have optionality in roster construction to play Alpi and Jabari together against the Hartensteins/Holmgren type lineups and sub Jabari for Adams/Capela when we are playing the Jaren Jackson Jr/Nurkic type squads...because most teams have a single true big and have a player of similar capability to Jabari - can shoot a little, can defend a little and use length, etc.
He is who he is - the #3 pick isn't valuable because it's the #3 pick - there are weak drafts and there are strong ones. If you redrafted today, Jabari is possibly still a top 5 guy so it's not like Houston completely missed the boat on him and it's also hard to criticize the org when 11 teams INCLUDING the team who ultimately drafted him passed on Jalen Williams. Your disappointment is the result of an expectation but it begs the question of where those expectations came from and whether they were appropriate all along. You are saying Jabari sucks because he didn't meet your expectations of him but no one said you were definitely getting a future all star with the 3rd pick and from my POV, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are the only 100% anyone would want them on their team All Stars from that year's draft board. You can argue Dyson Daniels($25/mil year), Jalen Duren(not sure - lots of talk of the max or close to it), and Banchero(max deal) are all of dubious value according to their contracts. This is where 'Jabari sucks' needs to be tempered with the reality of "okay genius, then who else?". If we had a redraft you are likely choosing between Duren, Daniels, Banchero, and Jabari and I think Jabari at $23mil/Daniels at $25mil are probably the best values there.
I'm fine with discussing Jabari's game qualitatively. I don't like inconsistent arguments. The same person arguing that the difference between 37% and 36.3% is insignificant says going from 35.4% in Jabari's third season to 36.3% this year is a massive stride. Is a less than 1% difference in shooting splits significant or not? Jabari is a league average scorer and shooter. Many of his overall contributions are average rather than exceptional. There is nothing wrong with that if his contract pays him accordingly. Him being 23 years old or 6'11" is irrelevant to the quality of his play, he doesn't get bonus points for that. Averaging numbers that includes only X number of players is also irrelevant and can be incredibly misleading. Any argument framed that way should be taken with a huge grain of salt. Who can forget the famous Indiana Pacers graphic made for giggles?
When you look at WS/ EPM he's has had an upward trajectory each season. Optimistically, he can be one of those super role players (3/4 best player) but even if he's just a role player he's on a great deal (~13% cap) and he turns 24 next spring. His age and position matters IMO. Dude is still young and seems plausible he can hit 40% on high volume of 3s in a couple of years, maybe he gets to +38% this year.
No, we can't agree that rare doesn't mean good in this context, and it's ridiculous to compare Bol Bol to Bari. Rarity, in this context, obviously means a unique trait possessed by a productive basketball player. A rare trait or skill doesn't matter if the player, himself, is unproductive. And if you think 6.3 3pa on .363 3p% is the same as 5 3pa on .363 3p%, then I don't know what to tell you. Honestly, looking purely at percentages without taking volume into account is a hallmark of this board, and it's silly every time. Frankly, I'm not sure how anyone with two eyes couldn't see that he is a much better 3 pt shooter now than two years ago. The advanced numbers bear this out. Last season, Bari hit 36% of his 3pa with "tight" defense. Two years ago, that number was 23%. In other words, he's taking more 3s, and the 3s he's taking are more difficult. That's what helps with spacing - volume shooting, and the ability to hit contested shots.
Ive already posted about this. the top 3 picks have higher percentages to go to the allstar. When you draft top three thats what you think youre getting therefore he's a disapointment. You can try to gaslight and explain it away like nthing means nothing and its what I expect you to do. Its what Fanboys do when met with the truth. Its why I compared Jabri fans to Lebron fans. Lebron not gonna win a anther chip likely so all of sudden Chips dont matter. Jabari not gonna become an allstar likely so all of sudden that doesnt matter lol "HOW DARE YOU EXPECT A TOP PICK TO PLAY LIKE A TOP PICK ARE YOU CRAZY??" EVENTHOUGH PEOPLE HERE WERE SAYING HE'S A FUTURE STAR. Now it doesnt matter lol OK Now we talking about "value" thats whats important guys. value lol But not talent value as far as he's cheaper cuz he sucks.
lol I dont care Im busy. Im typing fast because im at work running my business. Some of us actually work and arent old and retired doing nothing but on Clutchfans all day.
So basically I hurt your feelings by referring to you as a fan boy and saying Jabari sucks. You have nothing substantive to reply. So now youre crying over my grammar. Brother I dont care lol I didnt even reply to you.
I think the question is whether he would be better served traded. I think the Rockets really should be looking at Amen at PF as Im not sure he will ever develop a shot. KD should be traded as well and we should be looking at a real point guard and shooting options at 2 and 3. You would be building around your best two young players Sengun and Amen. Giving them the best chance to succeed.
Who is gaslighting whom? February is typically the driest month in Houston but if it's your birthday in February and you plan something outside and then it rains heavily on your special day - you shouldn't sit at home and cry about how there were higher percentages that it wouldn't rain. A general percentage should never be confused with the actual conditions of a specific day in a specific month, in a specific year. This just tells me you have completely unrealistic expectations and are largely basing it on generalities that have nothing to do with the actual conditions of the draft. Don't act like "When you draft top three thats what you think youre getting therefore he's a disapointment." is actual logic - you can work under those assumptions for a little while - but if you don't check the actual weather report on that day then you are not actually being logical at all. Is every single team that had a top 5 pick in the 2024 draft supposed to be mad at their GM/draft pick because they all kind of sucked? The 2022 Draft sucked too - even at the time it was considered a fairly shallow draft....but if you believed the marketing that made it seem like every player has a path to super stardom - then that's on you - not the players and GMs but YOU for confusing the tactics sports networks and their talking heads use to get you to tune in and remain "engaged" so they can sell ad space. If you confused real analysis with the marketing, agent driven hype, and higher percentage expectations then you have lost the ****ing plot, sir. There is real basketball analysis, and there is all the posturing that goes into the business model of the NBA - all the things agents do to make themselves and their players the most money and prevent teams from taking other players, all the posturing GMs do to keep their jobs, all the things the NBA does to keep you interested - even the draft itself would probably be a lot easier if teams just handed the league a list of their priority of players they wanted. They could do the draft in seconds...but instead we are rewarded with a two day theatrical event sponsored by State Farm, Phillips Norelco, and the new Google Pixel. You should be mad - but not at Jabari freaking Smith who just happened to be unfortunate enough to be one of many non-franchise players available at the 3rd pick when we were on the clock to draft.
No I never said I was mad at our GM for drafting him (I dont like him for other reasons). I also didnt say top 5. I said top 3. Again generally your allstars come that spot and when they dont its disappointing. As I said he's a disappointment. Jabari was said to be a great shooter and almost went #1. So yeah its a disapointment. Saying its not is silly.
