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Jabari Smith or Tari Eason - you choose

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by buzz1701, May 18, 2025.

  1. raining threes

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    If it comes down to the Bucks want Green or Sengun and Smith, for Giannis then Smith is a goner.
     
  2. ApacheWarrior

    ApacheWarrior Member

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    I pushed for the Rockets to draft Jabari and Tari.

    Tari pairing with Amen create so much havoc as the Terror Twins. Providing defense and points off that defense.

    Jabari has never developed handles like I had hoped. Because Jabari being a #3 pick, his extension starts at around $30M.

    I can't see the Rockets paying that; especially with a CNA that tries to break up 3 star teams.
    Rockets could wrangle a star like Durant or Giannis with Jalen Green/Sengun....but not with
    Jabari getting $30M

    Tari contract starts at around $17M. That's more doable.

    i don't see a 3 & D player making such top notch money. Esp with players coming up the college ranks that are 6'8" to 6'11" that can fill in at that 3 & D role. I would draft Carter Bryant or Rasheer Fleming.
     
    buzz1701 likes this.
  3. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    His offensive rebounding helps his at rim efficiency (cancel the missed shots). His missing shots at rim helps his offensive rebounding rate (cancel the difficulty in getting to the offensive board).

    By "canceling" I meant canceling the negatives. Perhaps I should have stated it in a positive way.

    Watching Tari play often makes me laugh... sometimes in delight, sometimes in disbelief.
     
  4. subtomic

    subtomic Member

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    Just looking at Tari, he is considerably longer than Jabari (7'2 wingspan vs ???? - Jabari didn't allow himself to be measured back in 2022) and he is considerably bouncier than Jabari as well. Jabari plays extremely small for his height, which is yet another reason why the idea of him is so much better than the reality of him.
     
  5. rhino17

    rhino17 Member

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    I think it would depend on who you are trading them for. Both are really versatile and make a perfect duo to come off the bench. But Jabari's versatility is a little bit more unique with being able to play the 3-5. Tari is probably more well rounded and pretty good at everything. I don't like either of them handling the ball, both can be out of control on offense. I think both can be high end role players, but not more than that. Jabari is a good enough shooter, but I was expecting him to be a 40% guy, and I don't think he will be. Tari's durability is a BIG concern for me, I don't think he will ever be able to regularly play big minutes.

    I think I would probably lean Jabari. I've never been a huge fan of his, but I've liked his game and role a lot more since coming back from injury, being able to drastically change a matchup off the bench. And I don't think I trust Tari's health.
     
  6. nolimitnp

    nolimitnp Member

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    I don't think either of the guys have a super high ceiling. But to me they're both the type of players you want on winning teams. They just seem to have the intangibles that lead to winning, in the mold of Mr. 7 Rings Robert Horry himself.

    Give me Jabari just because I'm concerned about Tari's long term health.
     
  7. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    The IDEA of Jabari still rules so many minds here. Many cannot separate what he is from what he supposedly could be. He offers up enough teases to keep people going.
     
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  8. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    Well, you can say the same about every young guy we have. None of them have lived up to the "idea" of what they are supposed to be ,.. yet.

    Of course, the longer they are in the league, the less likely they will get to that.
     
  9. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    The situation is similar to Jalen, who has proven beyond a doubt to reasonable people he just isn't the dynamic alpha scorer we wanted him to be.

    My point is Jabari is entering the same territory as Jalen going into his 4th year and should be subject to the same harsh scrutiny. At some point, you just gotta admit he probably isn't gonna get there because he hasn't developed much in 3 years.
     
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  10. DJ

    DJ Member

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    I'm surprised with the amount of people who would rather have Jabari. I feel like in the game threads people are constantly advocating for Tari
     
  11. BigMaloe

    BigMaloe Member

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    I don't see why we couldn't keep both. Extend them for around the same 4/100m contract each.

    Whyb do we always try to pit players against each other and choose one, instead of wanting to keep them around?
     
  12. deb4rockets

    deb4rockets Member
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    Jabari has improved in TS%, FG%, 3 PT%, and FT%.
    Jalen lowered his TS% and FG% since his rookie year, and has the same 3 PT% but Jabari has a higher FT%, FG%, and TS%

    I don't know how you think Jabari hasn't developed much in 3 years when he raised his TS% from 51.4% to 56.2%, his 3 PT% from 30.7% to 35.4%, and shoots free throws at 82.5% now.

    Give Jabari the credit he deserves.
     
  13. Hemingway

    Hemingway Member
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    Thank you. Jabari is 21 years old and continues to improve every year. Fans fall in love with high energy guys like Pat Bev and overlook their weaknesses. Both Jabari and Tari have strengths and weaknesses. It's hard to say that Tari has progressed much since his play has been mostly off the bench as a high energy guy and a penchant for missing a lot of games. Potential has to be taken into account for players as young as our players are.

    The real problem with Jabari is that he doesn't have a coach that can put him in the position to succeed. With a good offensive coach he would easily be a go to guy (not the go to guy) in many half-court sets. His mid-range is virtually unstoppable. His 3 point shot the 2nd half of the year was elite, but of course getting opportunities in Ime's isolation offense is few and far between for Jabari. With a good coach, I believe he is easily and 20/10 player at the ripe old age of 21.
     
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  14. deb4rockets

    deb4rockets Member
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    I really wish the Rockets would get a new coach who can improve our offense, and maximize our strengths and efficiency, but I know it won't happen.
     
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  15. GOATuve

    GOATuve Member

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    If it's a Giannis trade it's unlikely we can keep Bari.
     
  16. Hemingway

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    Only if the draft compensation is less and you have other trades lined up to get a Sengun replacement and shooting. I love Adams off the bench, but his days of starting should be over. He also is not as good a defender as Alpi, because he can't guard anybody outside the lane.
     
  17. GOATuve

    GOATuve Member

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    I think unfortunately his ceiling is what it is. He's more valuable than Eason though
     
  18. Hemingway

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    If we run it back with this roster. The results will have all the Ime lovers backtracking and calling for his head. I think running it back will result in a lower seed, slow the development of Amen, Jabari, and Reed, and the same type of playoff disaster. I would love to have Ime as a defensive assistant, but he is terrible at rotations and has absolutely no acumen on offense. He also is a complete Narcissist who will never bend to an offensive coach or recognize his own faults.
     
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  19. Joe Joe

    Joe Joe Go Stros!
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    I get the point of this, but I'd like to make one point. Being bad or even average is a death sentence for a high-usage player as they take up a larger percentage of the team's opportunities (i.e., they pull a team's overall performance to how good they are). Average low-usage players can still be valuable for teams with great high-usage players, as all they need to be is not so bad that they cancel out the stars.

    It is difficult to go from a high to a low usage player as it takes different skill sets. While Jalen Green would help a bad team win more, bad or average high-usage players tend to cap a team's ceiling more than an average low-usage player. I think Jabari is much closer to meeting the lower bar even after just three years for a rotation player than Green is at hitting the higher bar for a high-usage player.

    I will say, I think JSJ was potentially showing a big leap in talent at the end of the regular season. The Rockets roster is still unbalanced. I think JSJ needs better guard play to provide more value.
     
    #99 Joe Joe, May 21, 2025
    Last edited: May 21, 2025
  20. A_3PO

    A_3PO Member

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    Agreed on the lower bar. We'll see how much Jabari wants to be paid considering his bar is lower.
    Jalen also showed "leaps" at the end of seasons.
     
    #100 A_3PO, May 21, 2025
    Last edited: May 21, 2025

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