he's 20 years old and should still be in college. predicting what you can see like 5 years from now when he just begins to enter his prime isn't exactly realistic
All stars are popularity votes I don't really care about that. In the voting now Chet has less votes than Wemby and even Klay is on the list over Devin Booker. The NBA now is littered with these "non franchise players" that are still critical to their team's success. Guys like Jrue Holiday, Naz Reid, Franz Wagner you wouldn't call them franchise players but clearly without them their team would suck.
Just wanted to point out that after a reasonable rookie season of 30% from 3 Smith is now at 38% in year 2. His stats are all up across the board, exactly what you’d want to see and great for his trajectory. I expect to see more polish and increased scoring to his game in year 3 but he is right on schedule for his potential.
Rough night with the turnovers, some of them dumb unforced mistakes, but overall I'm still happy with Jabari given that he's younger than most rookies, let alone 2nd year players. The only players I would consider trading him for would be like, Tatum, JJJ, maybe Lauri (I'm kinda 50/50 on that one). If we're not getting a young star power forward I would just keep developing him and see how he turns out. My overall opinion on him is unchanged since the end of last season--I see his likely outcome as something between an elite roleplayer and a low-end all-star. Best case scenario, maybe a very good second option.
I'd 100% trade him for Markkanen. Markkanen strikes me as a guy who takes care about his body and will stay at this level for at least 6-7 more years. I'd invest in a 2 way player like him. Takes 16 shots majority of them are 3s and averages 24 pts. If Sengun and him give me 50 pts a night then i have to take the deal. I like Jabari i just think Markkanen is clearly the bigger talent of the two.
Yeah my only hesitation is that Lauri is already 26, but maybe he can stay at his peak long enough to be worth it. I wouldn't be upset if we traded Jabari + picks for him because I think Jabari's peak is probably not as good offensively as Lauri is now. (Not impossible, just don't think it's super likely.) Jabari is probably already the better defensive player, though.
Lauri, now vs Jabari's floor/upside...interesting. I think this really helps put how good Jabari's going to be in perspective. Markkanen can shoot it, rebound, work inside...... quite a player...an All Star, right. On the other hand, Jabari will be a massive factor on the defensive side of the ball too. He's gonna be the leader of our D. At the same time, eventually hitting from at least 40% from downtown ON VOLUME. The boards are starting to come. And, he's working better putting the ball on the floor/inside. As good as Lauri is, I see Jabari eventually putting up 23-24 & 12, while anchoring our D. I take Jabari, and it's not even close. OKC needs Markkanen, though.
I don’t think I’d trade Bari for Markkanen. I just think Bari’s ceiling is too high to risk it. My dream would be to pair Markkanen with Bari. A Markkanen, Bari, Sengun lineup would create havoc.
A Jabari for Markkanen trade is what a team trying to move from 5th seed to 3rd seed does. We are not in that situation.
Hmm, maybe. The question is, can we move up to around 5th seed in a year or two from internal development? If so, then Lauri is on a good timeline to coexist with our young core. If it's going to take much longer than that, maybe acquiring him doesn't make sense.
Bari is gonna get there. I still see a lot of limitations (oddly I see a lot of defensive limitations), but Bari is gonna get there. Takes bigs longer. His shot is definitely improving (37% from 3) and by season’s end nobody is gonna be doubting Jabari. I see him as a #3 option on a championship team.
It depends on how you see Jabari's potential. IMO Jabari's floor is only slightly lower than Markkanen's prime (assuming he is entering his prime now). I wouldn't risk Jabari's future upside for a marginal upgrade at present. I like Lauri's game and hope we could somehow get him. But not at the price of Jabari. Jabari's offense and rebounding can reach Lauri's level (not guaranteed but quite likely). Jabari's defense is already at Lauri's level if not better, and he is 5 years younger.
I think it would be fairly unlikely that Jabari ever exceeds Lauri's current production on offense. Not impossible, but a low percentage outcome. His efficiency will probably be similar, but I don't think it would be if he was the #1 option shooting at high volume like Lauri currently is for his team. From just polishing up the skills he already flashes, I think Jabari could get 20 efficient points in his prime, maybe. He'd have to add some significant new skills to reach Lauri's level.
He needs to stop trying to make 3 points in a fast break, Denver MPJ also does this, it's unnecessary in my opinion.
I feel like he does that because he doesn't get any touches. Even in the halfcourt, he has his hands ready and you already know he's going to launch it if he hasn't shot for a while. He's trying to get his, I understand why he does it but it's still a bad shot.
This is nonsense. Pretty rare to say bari takes bad shots. He’s no where near close to some chucker. His shots are already limited as is. He finds his spots within the offense and takes mostly good shots when they’re available btw those shots he takes in transition aren’t actually bad shots. He usually does that when the defense is clearly back and he’s open. Far from a bad shot. Shooters shoot. Not shy away. He had one tonight when he saw Giannis way back. Great shot. In rhythm with confidence. that's exactly what you're supposed to do. He only took 7 shots tonight with a team high 40 mins played and still ended with 14 pts. Clear efficiency which is the common theme in his 2nd year jump
