If he takes over in even a few games offensively and can assert himself and score 1-1 on good defenders I think he would be the #1 pick.
If we can get one of those players we should be fine. This guy reminds me of Scottie Barnes but has a offensive game. Having 3 6'10 [players on our frontcourt(Sengun, Wood and Smith) with Porter and Green......
His game against Alabama really didn't help him. Might have some Brandon Ingram in him, where you see the talent, but refuses to really assert himself on offense early on (except when flying in to punch a defenseless Chris Paul)
Brandom Ingram is a good comp but he looks already more assertive just want to see more facets of his offensive game.
I don't really see someone who is going to handle the ball and be a primary or secondary creator. I see Jabari's game more like Bosh 2.0; polished offensively, great passer, high BBIQ, good frame, and solid defensive potential. If you were looking for a CWood replacement, he may fit the bill.
We are currently 4th, and when Zion comes back they should surpass Houston, after that we would be #3 and have the greatest possible chance at the #1 pick. We're still in this fellas. Move Wood for picks, move EG to a contender for a worthless package of expiring players, Wall Green and KPJ come back all chucking and turning it over like prime Westbrooks, cutting into Gary Bird and Aaron Brooks Jr's minutes and we will be golden.
Bro, Zion ain't comin' back anytime soon. He's about to eat his own foot. Seriously, though... he's about to be shelved even longer because of more foot pain. The only thing that's going to save the Rockets' lottery chances is apparently Daniel Theis.
I bet EG actually nets us something of value. He is playing excellent and would really help a contender.
https://theathletic.com/3013146/202...t-pick-jabari-smith-hollingers-week-that-was/ PROSPECT OF THE WEEK: Jabari Smith Jr., 6-10, freshman PF, Auburn (Note: This section won’t necessarily profile the best prospect of the week. Just the one I’ve been watching.) Coming into the season, the general consensus was that the top prospects for the 2022 NBA Draft were Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero. Not anymore. Several NBA scouts and multiple GMs were in Atlanta on Saturday to watch Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. against Nebraska, and they had to come away impressed after his 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in just 23 minutes led the Tigers to a 99-68 thrashing of the Huskers. Folks, Smith isn’t just “in the running” for the top pick; he might be the favorite at this point. Analytically, his resume from the early part of the season is about as strong as you could imagine: A 30.9 PER and 13.9 BPM, very high rates of steals (3.7 per 100) and assists (5.3 per 100) for a big forward, and did I mention that he’s shooting 44.7 percent from 3 and 84.6 percent from the line? There are no offsetting warts here; he has a low turnover rate, and he’s scoring and dishing at a high rate. You might want to see him shoot a little better inside the arc, a consequence of his shooting a lot of jump shots rather than getting all the way to the cup. That’s about it. Watching him shoot before Saturday’s game, I can’t emphasize enough what a non-fluke those shooting stats are. Smiths’ release is absolute butter, a smooth launch with clean mechanics and perfect spin that traces an elegant 45-degree parabola toward the bottom of the net. He has to clean up some footwork shooting off the dribble, but he’s already very comfortable rising up from shorter range to hit jump shots, as he showed multiple times Saturday. That’s the best thing about Smith: I talked about his stats above, and they’re awesome, but holy eye test, Batman. He can run and jump and make plays for other people; he can move on the perimeter and still challenge shots at the rim, and he might be the best shooter in the draft. Watch here, for instance, as he jumps a half-beat too soon to challenge a 3-pointer, helicopters in the air for a while waiting for the shooter to catch up and stuffs the shot with his wrist. This is not common. Are there still boxes left for Smith to check? Sure. At 6-10, scouts will want to see him dominate on the interior a bit more — his rebound rate is fine (14.2 percent) but hardly exceptional for this level of prospect, and he’s only blocked six shots in nine games. But this is searching really, really hard for things to nit-pick. I think Holmgren is going to be an elite rim protector, and Banchero looks like a young Carmelo Anthony, but if I had the top pick tomorrow, there’s no question whom I would take. There are very, very few prospects who combine elite athleticism with elite skill level, and Smith looks like he’s one of them.
1. Jabari Smith Jr., F, Auburn | Freshman Height: 6' 10" | Weight: 210 | Age: 18 There’s no clear consensus this early in the process, but most around the NBA agree that Smith will have a strong case as the top pick by the end of the season. He arguably boasts the highest upside of anyone in this draft and has already made quite an impression: He’s an incredibly natural shooter with legit size, he has terrific scoring instincts and he has few bad habits at an early stage of his development. He is a very focused player for his age and doesn’t turn 19 until May. His lanky frame offers plenty of room to put on muscle. He also projects as a good positional defender. As he continues to clean up his footwork and add to his scoring repertoire, Smith could be a near-impossible cover by the time he hits his prime years. There simply aren’t many players with his combination of jump shooting, body type and movement skills. And his mature approach to the game has many executives believing he’ll make the most of his considerable ability. Banchero and Smith are both terrific prospects, and they’re close in the minds of many, but if I had to make the pick today, Smith would be the guy.
