Jabari Smith Jr. - Auburn

[Colbinii]

Paul George has never sniffed a top 1̶0̶ 5 player position in the league. For this realistic assessment of George, Jabari's ceiling is certainly higher. His defense and offense are way more advanced. Media's love affair with George and Lillard, etc has made some fall in love with fake superstars.

Woah, slow down a bit here. Paul George was a beast in 2019--but it's an outlier for him. It is his only season above 4.0 OBPM [4.0 is All-Star level, 6.0 is All-NBA level].

Paul George's value is he is a versatile offensive player who has the ability to create, is a good shooter and is a hell of a defender. But he is a Cedric Maxwell, Billy Cunningham and James Worthy tier player [Elite 3rd option, weak 2nd option], All-Star when healthy and squeeks into an All-NBA season or two when the forwards are weak.

I have no qualms in calling Jabari Smith Jr a better prospect with a higher ceiling compared to Paul George.

[clyde21]

Paolo - 95% at the 4, 5% at the 5
Bari - 79% at the 4, 21% at the 5

this is why in 3 years Jabari will be widely viewed as a better, more impactful player and you can quote this post.

[Colbinii]

Paolo - 95% at the 4, 5% at the 5
Bari - 79% at the 4, 21% at the 5

this is why in 3 years Jabari will be widely viewed as a better, more impactful player and you can quote this post.

Yeah but not everyone looks at Impact = Goodness.

The two most impactful players since tracking data became available are, by far, LeBron and KG. Draymond is Top 5 but most people don't view Draymond as a star when he was in his prime.

[K_chile22]

Paolo - 95% at the 4, 5% at the 5
Bari - 79% at the 4, 21% at the 5

this is why in 3 years Jabari will be widely viewed as a better, more impactful player and you can quote this post.

I'm very impressed by Jabari this year but him at the five has never looked quite right to me. His lack of vertical pop stands out more. Maybe he just walls off the rim from the weak side quicker as he understands NBA defense more with experience but he's so good defending on the perimeter I feel like you lose some value with him primarily on a center if the other team just doesn't run a pick and roll with him for Jabari to switch. Also wouldn't be surprised if that 21% number (assuming it's this season) is counting him as the five when he plays with Jeff Green who is actually playing the five

Overall though his finishing around the rim has improved incredibly as well as his ability to kind of snake to the rim when attacking closeouts. Last year those were two of the dings on him as a prospect and they were both HORRID his rookie year. Dribbling off his foot in the open floor and blowing everything that wasn't a dunk. Shooting coming around isn't very shocking but those improvements were and are what has me doing a 180 on where I was with him last year

[Colbinii]

I think small ball Jabari for 25-40% of his minutes makes a lot of sense. It isn't a full-time thing but his switch ability allows for some really creative defensive line-ups which maximize offensive output.

[EvanZ]

My goodness

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[K_chile22]

My goodness

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Last year he would have dribbled off his knee or if he somehow got to the basket he would've put up a layup that hit nothing but glass. His improvement attacking closeouts has been huge

[MemphisX]

My goodness

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Last year he would have dribbled off his knee or if he somehow got to the basket he would've put up a layup that hit nothing but glass. His improvement attacking closeouts has been huge

Folks are so quick to write off young dudes who struggle early. You have to hold on to the relevant flashes early. Hope the player has the work ethic, opportunity, and health to expand on it over the years. Long process.

[JMAC3]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

[HadAnEffectHere]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

Green has Zach LaVine upside, but he'll probably not get there.

Amen needs a stretch 4 and stretch 5 and a star creating PG next to him to succeed so he's such a bad fit with the Rockets. Tough to say he's a great prospect because he needs such a specific fit.

He's obviously a worse prospect than Sengun, probably worse than Whitmore.

Kind of just an average player, not sure where his upside is.

He's a really bad fit next to Sengun as Sengun needs a shotblocking PF. Will guess Jabari Smith is moved fairly soonish (like in the next three years)

[K_chile22]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

3rd probably above Cam at this point but Idk how that's necessarily an indictment on him

[EvanZ]

It's Sengun and then Jabari. Not even really close long term imo.

[JMAC3]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

3rd probably above Cam at this point but Idk how that's necessarily an indictment on him

Can you post the ranking to clear up your response.

[K_chile22]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

3rd probably above Cam at this point but Idk how that's necessarily an indictment on him

Can you post the ranking to clear up your response.

Sengun, Amen, Bari, Cam, Tari and in the far distance Jalen

[HadAnEffectHere]

Amen is not a good prospect and especially not on that team. He has no future on the Rockets as long as Sengun is there and needs just a wildly specific fit to be playable in the postseason.

[JMAC3]

It's Sengun and then Jabari. Not even really close long term imo.

Wouldn't shock me at all if Amen and Cam are better by the end of this year then Jabari.

[HadAnEffectHere]

It's Sengun and then Jabari. Not even really close long term imo.

What is Jabari's upside?

He has the future of being... OK at shooting and defense?

He also can't play with Sengun as they can't block shots.

[clyde21]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

hilariously bad take

[Chuck Everett]

Too soon. His game is growing and still only 20. Stop the madness please. Growth is not always linear. Rockets have a lot of development to do on a myriad of players and they are all showing flashes. Too impatient here.

[JMAC3]

Is Jabari the 5th most valuable prospect on his own team? Amen, Sengun, Whitmore, Green and him. Maybe 4th best?

hilariously bad take

So no chance that Amen or Whitmore are better players in 2 years? That is what you are saying by calling this such a hilarious bad take.