Jabari is decent, he does not suck. But he looks like a very tradeable asset now, where he has age & potential that a team might like. Its okay to have a bunch of medium skills in today's NBA. A "tweener" isnt the worst thing anymore. Still Jabari seems like classic case of taller & better at lower levels, height & agility leveled out at NBA level. He either needs to get stronger to be more physical, or shoot 38-40% from 3 Rashard Lewis style. It took 6 years for Jermaine O'Neal to put it together. But he needed to leave Portland for that
You're clearly not going to re-sign him to a deal in the offseason. He has done nothing to earn a Jalen Green we believe in you deal. He doesn't strike me as someone who's going to play better because he's a restricted free agent. We already have his replacement in Tari. How do you not trade him before the deadline?
I know. I’m saying if he doesn’t sign a contract by the deadline 2025, he’s a restricted free agent after next season.
The accountability Udoka ever mentioned is a joke. Awful players still play as starting spot. Great players still get 20 mpg only.
Some folks were loud as hell about wanting Alperen Sengun to come off the bench. Why don't we hear much about moving Jabari Smith Jr. to the bench to play some backup 5 instead of Jock/Adams? I would not be surprised If Tari Eason at the 4 opens up easier looks for this offense. Deflections for more JG layups, and cuts to the basket for Alperen passes. Opens up some forward minutes for Cam, too.
Problem is that he needs to showcase Jabari for them to get any value out of him in a trade. But he sucks even when he is showcased, so his trade value sinks even further. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. The Rockets are trying desperately to claw any sort of value out of his #3 draft spot right now, even if it means hurting the Rockets in the short term.
Good post. Im not sure JO is a good comp though. He wasnt really even given playing time until he left portland. Bari has been logging big minutes since day one.
