Who do you want us to take at #1?

[fateis007]

The more I watch Banchero, the more I like him as our choice. We havent had a scorer like him in a decade. I thought he was mostly just a post player, but he is so much more. The dude is 250 lbs and handles the ball like a guard. He can pass well, and push the break and not look clumsy. He's extremely explosive with the ball and has a good post up game. He reminds me of a prime blake griffin with a better handle/speed/shot. There really isn't much missing in his offensive game and we have been top 2 worst offenses the last 2 years.

All these other guys are what ifs. What if this guy puts on weight, what if this guy actually takes a shot inside of 30 ft.

Banchero is ready to go and has a body that will cause havoc. Him and Franz running the pick and roll would be unstoppable.

[pepe1991]

Jabari is nothing like Lauri or Rashard. Neither one of those players are hitting shots at the rate Jabari does with defenders draped on him. He also has all-defensive team potential from day 1.

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Sell me on this.
What execlly on offense Jabari Smith provides as 1st overall pick that Michael Porter isn't, while we all know Michael Porter can't be anything more than 3rd option on elite team, playing behing 2 time MVP?

Imo, answer is simply- nothing. He will be plays finisher but also won't make anybody around him better, he won't be setting screens ,he won't be curling off them either. He will spend majority of time on eblow waiting to be called own number to do his jab step mid range OR he will, on set offense spend time in corner waiting for ballswing to take 3.

Those skills are cool. Those skills make him complimentary player, not guy that you want build franchise around.

He is player who is hard -shots maker at college level where competition sucks. It's yet to be seen what happends if he is being chased around some Jeremy Grant with versitality, mobility & lenght to match his own. We know he was shut down by 6'7 wing at college who did nothing special but played glue on him.

The difference between MPJ is Jabari's body type will be able to add muscle. I also think he'll develop his handle. You have to look beyond what he is at 18 and imagine what he'll become.

On defense their aren't many guys his size with the lateral quickness that he has, that will translate from day 1.

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Porter stands at 220 pounds. He ain't toothpick. Porter also has legit ballhandling skills, Jabari has non.
Porter also showed ablity to drive at rim from time to time, Smith not so much.
Both players live off bad/ hard jumpshots they take.

I don't really care about his defense nor i'm sold on his ability to switch all that much. his only job on defense at college level was to not give up TOO open jumpshot, every single blowby was challenged by Kessler as safenet behind him. And Kesller had best shotblocking season in last 25 years at college so...I'll hold my suspicious and reservations about notion he will be plus defender.

[j_n]

Sell me on this.
What execlly on offense Jabari Smith provides as 1st overall pick that Michael Porter isn't, while we all know Michael Porter can't be anything more than 3rd option on elite team, playing behing 2 time MVP?

Imo, answer is simply- nothing. He will be plays finisher but also won't make anybody around him better, he won't be setting screens ,he won't be curling off them either. He will spend majority of time on eblow waiting to be called own number to do his jab step mid range OR he will, on set offense spend time in corner waiting for ballswing to take 3.

Those skills are cool. Those skills make him complimentary player, not guy that you want build franchise around.

He is player who is hard -shots maker at college level where competition sucks. It's yet to be seen what happends if he is being chased around some Jeremy Grant with versitality, mobility & lenght to match his own. We know he was shut down by 6'7 wing at college who did nothing special but played glue on him.

1. We don't know that about Mpj, though I like this comparison a lot more.
What we know about Mpj is that at a very young age with minimal experience he was already one of the best scorers in the league and earned a max contract despite the injury concerns, I would take Mpj without the injuries over any of the other prospects.

2. Being able to space the floor, carry the scoring load and drawing attention on offense will make your teammates better, and are we assuming that he is already a final product will never develop any of his skills?

[SOUL]

Sell me on this.

If you thought Barnes was worse Draymond and Barnes averages 15 ppg in NBA, Jabari can average 25

Nah but seriously, who knows what can translate and what doesn't? I think the biggest thing is that shooting will always be at a premium in the NBA. Other things might be ever-changing. I'd say it was a point guards league a few years ago, now it seems to be bigger, versatile wings that can distribute or centers that can distribute/make plays to open up the offense. Obviously good point guards are still important, but it's not a pre-requisite anymore, just a luxury.

We may disagree on certain things pepe, but I think we approach NBA ideas similarly in the sense that there is a lot of nuance to things and there isn't one answer to contending. Sometimes you are a foot size too short from advancing (Nets last year), sometimes you build a dominant team and run out of gas in the playoffs (Suns this year), sometimes you get freak injuries and not enough depth to compete, sometimes it takes a while for a team to gel and hit on all cylinders in a season (Celtics this year - the fans wanted to break the team up until their big winning streaks).

So I think it's a bit of a disservice when people only look at finals teams as "the blueprint" to what is successful or not and try to push teams to build those teams when it's what worked best for them. Especially during a season like this when everything is wide open, a lot of it comes down to matchups, lucky bounces, injury luck, reffing, etc. So maybe we shouldn't zag when everybody is zigging, but we have to make the zig with our own strengths in mind. BUT the biggest thing is we need stars that can carry us there. Whether through draft or trading for one.

So, maybe the question isn't if Jabari is the franchise guy to build around or not, because percentages would just say he isn't. In a year where star talent isn't easy identifiable (which is most years, but guys like LeBron, Duncan, even Zion to an extent were must-picks at #1), we have to just trust the scouts and what the team sees behind the scenes.

We simply don't know what they can become. I have never believed that "weaker drafts" can't produce stars, to me, they will either take more time than other drafts or those players aren't as easily identifiable, but they're there, like with Giannis, Kawhi, Booker, etc.

But it also can be chancing looking for an ice cube in the Sahara. Can we turn our nose up at a guy that can be Middleton or Rashard while searching for a superstar that may not be in this draft? It's easy to say go for the home run pick, harder to sell it to the fans if Jabari becomes a solid all-star while we draft someone (Chet, Paolo, whoever) and they bust, but this argument can be flipped around with all of them.

[basketballRob]

Sell me on this.
What execlly on offense Jabari Smith provides as 1st overall pick that Michael Porter isn't, while we all know Michael Porter can't be anything more than 3rd option on elite team, playing behing 2 time MVP?

Imo, answer is simply- nothing. He will be plays finisher but also won't make anybody around him better, he won't be setting screens ,he won't be curling off them either. He will spend majority of time on eblow waiting to be called own number to do his jab step mid range OR he will, on set offense spend time in corner waiting for ballswing to take 3.

Those skills are cool. Those skills make him complimentary player, not guy that you want build franchise around.

He is player who is hard -shots maker at college level where competition sucks. It's yet to be seen what happends if he is being chased around some Jeremy Grant with versitality, mobility & lenght to match his own. We know he was shut down by 6'7 wing at college who did nothing special but played glue on him.

The difference between MPJ is Jabari's body type will be able to add muscle. I also think he'll develop his handle. You have to look beyond what he is at 18 and imagine what he'll become.

On defense their aren't many guys his size with the lateral quickness that he has, that will translate from day 1.

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Porter stands at 220 pounds. He ain't toothpick. Porter also has legit ballhandling skills, Jabari has non.
Porter also showed ablity to drive at rim from time to time, Smith not so much.
Both players live off bad/ hard jumpshots they take.

I don't really care about his defense nor i'm sold on his ability to switch all that much. his only job on defense at college level was to not give up TOO open jumpshot, every single blowby was challenged by Kessler as safenet behind him. And Kesller had best shotblocking season in last 25 years at college so...I'll hold my suspicious and reservations about notion he will be plus defender.

Jabari is currently 223 and his body type will naturally put on more muscle.

Jabari has the gift of being able to shoot and get his shot off. It'll be nice to have a player you can hand the ball off to and he can take a couple dribbles and shoot over the defender.

Their is enough footage of Jabari moving laterally on defense. Guarding big wings like Ingram has been a problem.

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[basketballRob]

I bet Jabari is already getting promises from OKC and Houston.

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[LDNMagic90]

Read on Twitter

I'm tired of the disrespect we've got since the draft lottery

[89Magicfan]

I’m not sold on Smith either. Just doesn’t seem to be a player who you draft at 1. His offensive arsenal seems limited. The Lauri comparison screams to me when I watch.

If I knew he can stay healthy, and he might if you keep him on the perimeter more, I rather select Chet. I’d probably even select Paolo over Smith based on talent. Or Sharpe’s potential.

[tiderulz]

Smith wasn't just player who hardly shot anything at rim... He was also awful at scoring around rim. He shot 52% around basket.
For comparison sake, we were here roasting Oladipo in rookie and sophmore year with " miss layup" joystick picture and Oladipo shot 57% around rim. In nba.

His isolation numbers suggest 0,9 points per possession. If you are into that stuff, Paolo is your guy.



In general Jabari Smith has ability to make tough shots. But also doesn't provide much of a passing, rebounding, blocking or pretty much anything. He is semi-iso- mid range- 3 point line scorer who lacks versitality on offense but when he is hot he looks unguardable. But how he looks when shots don't go in? And last game he played at college would suggest he will pretty much sink you.
There is something to be said about 6'9 -6'10 wing who has 6'7 player on him and ends up shooting 1-11 against him in elimination game. He didn't react on double teams at all, he was stripped multiple times and he was just bodied 1 on 1 despite 4 inches adventage.


Jabari's game won't become anything special until and if his ballhandlig doesn't fix itself. If it doesn't than you are looking at Harrison Barnes/ Lauri Markannen offensive player. Guys who are stand-still above average shooters standing at 6'8 / 6'10 , who are plus shooters for their size, but who lack creativity in scoring to be anything more than 4th , 5th options on elite teams.


At the end of a day, Jabari Smith feels like perfect player.... For a team that has elite scoring center and needs streach 4 who won't clog their paint and who has almost zero desire to play like big.
Magic , Pistons, OKC , Houston don't have that player. His best fit is probably Kings, but he won't fall that far.


On defense... People say he is lockdown defender. I don't see it. I see player who's only job on defense was not to get crushed and direct his man toward Kessler. If you have guy who is best shotblocker in last 20 years at college i find it impossible to value your defense to just not get waxed on first step.

As for athletic . 6/10. There is nothing special about him there. Maybe in empty arena he can get toward some 34 inch vertical but in game it's invisible. His mobilty is good enough to not get wracked on defense, on offense he shot so poorly around rim that it's not hard to not connect lack of ability to make shots with lack of burst & pop ability. Being 6'10 and shooting 52% around rim is just dreadful. Maybe it's just poor ballhandling that glues him to a floor? I don't know.


Again, Jabari Smith is lottery prospect. He is guy you would LOVE to add to your roster... If he is 8th pick and you have Sabonis or Nurkic or Zion .
But he is one of most fundamentally flawed players when it comes conversation for 1st overall pick in long time.


Where with Chet, guy scored 3 points more, on 4 shots less, on 12% TS higher. And did just about everything else significantly better.

Bet on Jabari Smith is bet on masterful development to expend his game. Teams who draft top 3 probably don't have masterful development program, othervise they wouldn't be bottom of nba.

Chet padded his TS though against WCC opponents that did not have good or tall big men. Look at his stats against ranked opponents. Shoot, look at his stats vs 3 games against St Mary's that start 6'8 and 6'10 forwards and no center.

[pepe1991]

Sell me on this.

If you thought Barnes was worse Draymond and Barnes averages 15 ppg in NBA, Jabari can average 25

Nah but seriously, who knows what can translate and what doesn't? I think the biggest thing is that shooting will always be at a premium in the NBA. Other things might be ever-changing. I'd say it was a point guards league a few years ago, now it seems to be bigger, versatile wings that can distribute or centers that can distribute/make plays to open up the offense. Obviously good point guards are still important, but it's not a pre-requisite anymore, just a luxury.

We may disagree on certain things pepe, but I think we approach NBA ideas similarly in the sense that there is a lot of nuance to things and there isn't one answer to contending. Sometimes you are a foot size too short from advancing (Nets last year), sometimes you build a dominant team and run out of gas in the playoffs (Suns this year), sometimes you get freak injuries and not enough depth to compete, sometimes it takes a while for a team to gel and hit on all cylinders in a season (Celtics this year - the fans wanted to break the team up until their big winning streaks).

So I think it's a bit of a disservice when people only look at finals teams as "the blueprint" to what is successful or not and try to push teams to build those teams when it's what worked best for them. Especially during a season like this when everything is wide open, a lot of it comes down to matchups, lucky bounces, injury luck, reffing, etc. So maybe we shouldn't zag when everybody is zigging, but we have to make the zig with our own strengths in mind. BUT the biggest thing is we need stars that can carry us there. Whether through draft or trading for one.

So, maybe the question isn't if Jabari is the franchise guy to build around or not, because percentages would just say he isn't. In a year where star talent isn't easy identifiable (which is most years, but guys like LeBron, Duncan, even Zion to an extent were must-picks at #1), we have to just trust the scouts and what the team sees behind the scenes.

We simply don't know what they can become. I have never believed that "weaker drafts" can't produce stars, to me, they will either take more time than other drafts or those players aren't as easily identifiable, but they're there, like with Giannis, Kawhi, Booker, etc.

But it also can be chancing looking for an ice cube in the Sahara. Can we turn our nose up at a guy that can be Middleton or Rashard while searching for a superstar that may not be in this draft? It's easy to say go for the home run pick, harder to sell it to the fans if Jabari becomes a solid all-star while we draft someone (Chet, Paolo, whoever) and they bust, but this argument can be flipped around with all of them.

Basketball has been dominated by ballhandler for ages, dating back probably all the way to Oscar Roberson & Jerry West.

Modern era gave first Magic & Bird, than Jordan as those "tall " ballhandlers and in general being tall, until it's not at expense of your agility & speed is plus.
But overall smaller guards are always more talented than "tall" players because in order to get to nba they face numerous obstacles to get there and they are challenged harder at youth age to improve. If Steph Curry was born in 6'10 body he would never have to work that hard on ballhandling & shooting to get to that level ( Ben Simmons syndrome ? )

We don't know what those young players can be but we can make assumpsions based on evidence of their game in past. For better or worst that's only tangable fact we have to project their future.


As for nba and it's direction, biggest direction has been : talent ,than space and defense.
Talent remains biggest "need". You can't substitute ability of some Giannis or Durant or Lebron to take over a game even when nothing else is going on. Even with best coaching.

Space goes hand in hand with talent. More talent you have easier it is to create space. More spacing you add, it's easier for "talent" to do the work.

BUT the biggest thing is we need stars that can carry us there. Whether through draft or trading for one.

Yep.

[tiderulz]

Sell me on this.
What execlly on offense Jabari Smith provides as 1st overall pick that Michael Porter isn't, while we all know Michael Porter can't be anything more than 3rd option on elite team, playing behing 2 time MVP?

Imo, answer is simply- nothing. He will be plays finisher but also won't make anybody around him better, he won't be setting screens ,he won't be curling off them either. He will spend majority of time on eblow waiting to be called own number to do his jab step mid range OR he will, on set offense spend time in corner waiting for ballswing to take 3.

Those skills are cool. Those skills make him complimentary player, not guy that you want build franchise around.

He is player who is hard -shots maker at college level where competition sucks. It's yet to be seen what happends if he is being chased around some Jeremy Grant with versitality, mobility & lenght to match his own. We know he was shut down by 6'7 wing at college who did nothing special but played glue on him.

1. We don't know that about Mpj, though I like this comparison a lot more.
What we know about Mpj is that at a very young age with minimal experience he was already one of the best scorers in the league and earned a max contract despite the injury concerns, I would take Mpj without the injuries over any of the other prospects.

2. Being able to space the floor, carry the scoring load and drawing attention on offense will make your teammates better, and are we assuming that he is already a final product will never develop any of his skills?

Smith has areas that he can improve on. all the top prospects do. this is a draft that can get a GM fired by passing on a prospect. There is high bust risk on all the prospects.

Porter was what, 20 when he was drafted? so a year older than Smith. go look at pre-draft scouting reports on MPJ.

he lacks the necessary advanced dribble moves to separate from quality defenders on a consistent basis

Ball handling has improved but still needs to improve his overall ball skills, especially with his left hand

Doesn’t create much off the dribble or have a lot of shiftiness in his game… Has to move without the ball and have separation before receiving it to create space … Relies on outjumping opponents at this stage, will need to improve offensive game moving forward … His pull up game can be predictable and won’t come as easy at the next level … If his shot isn’t falling, he doesn’t always have a way to get easy baskets

Doesn’t have a wide variety to his scoring arsenal. Doesn’t provide much in the half court outside of catching and shooting over defense

-Can improve his handle, especially with his off hand. Has the skill set of a perimeter four man at this stage. Struggles to create versus pressure. -Has some vision but isn't always the most willing passer. Will force up contested jumpers rather than moving the ball.

[basketballRob]

No great 18-year-old ball handlers in this draft.

I think you have to develop the player. Players don't show up at 19 and are NBA All-Stars.

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[tiderulz]

So, maybe the question isn't if Jabari is the franchise guy to build around or not, because percentages would just say he isn't. In a year where star talent isn't easy identifiable (which is most years, but guys like LeBron, Duncan, even Zion to an extent were must-picks at #1), we have to just trust the scouts and what the team sees behind the scenes.

We simply don't know what they can become. I have never believed that "weaker drafts" can't produce stars, to me, they will either take more time than other drafts or those players aren't as easily identifiable, but they're there, like with Giannis, Kawhi, Booker, etc.

But it also can be chancing looking for an ice cube in the Sahara. Can we turn our nose up at a guy that can be Middleton or Rashard while searching for a superstar that may not be in this draft? It's easy to say go for the home run pick, harder to sell it to the fans if Jabari becomes a solid all-star while we draft someone (Chet, Paolo, whoever) and they bust, but this argument can be flipped around with all of them.

i think this gets lost a lot. Yes, there is no Lebron, Zion, Shaq, etc in this draft. No clear cut top prospect. But we still have to draft a player. you take the best player available, even if their ceiling is not a top-10 player. as you said, maybe they become the Middleton, Klay, etc to your eventual #1 star or top player. but we still have to choose a player, or make a trade.

[tiderulz]

I’m not sold on Smith either. Just doesn’t seem to be a player who you draft at 1. His offensive arsenal seems limited. The Lauri comparison screams to me when I watch.

If I knew he can stay healthy, and he might if you keep him on the perimeter more, I rather select Chet. I’d probably even select Paolo over Smith based on talent. Or Sharpe’s potential.

in many draft's, Smith would not be in consideration for #1. in many drafts, Oladipo wouldnt be a top-5 pick. we dont get to take our #1 pick and choose which draft we use it in, and this is the class of prospects we have to choose. doesnt mean Smith wont be a good player.

[basketballRob]

I’m not sold on Smith either. Just doesn’t seem to be a player who you draft at 1. His offensive arsenal seems limited. The Lauri comparison screams to me when I watch.

If I knew he can stay healthy, and he might if you keep him on the perimeter more, I rather select Chet. I’d probably even select Paolo over Smith based on talent. Or Sharpe’s potential.

in many draft's, Smith would not be in consideration for #1. in many drafts, Oladipo wouldnt be a top-5 pick. we dont get to take our #1 pick and choose which draft we use it in, and this is the class of prospects we have to choose. doesnt mean Smith wont be a good player.

How many people here really wanted Tatum in that draft? My guess is zero. You have to pick a player that you think will develop.

Ingram didn't blow anyone away his first season but he had a found to develop.

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[pepe1991]

Sell me on this.
What execlly on offense Jabari Smith provides as 1st overall pick that Michael Porter isn't, while we all know Michael Porter can't be anything more than 3rd option on elite team, playing behing 2 time MVP?

Imo, answer is simply- nothing. He will be plays finisher but also won't make anybody around him better, he won't be setting screens ,he won't be curling off them either. He will spend majority of time on eblow waiting to be called own number to do his jab step mid range OR he will, on set offense spend time in corner waiting for ballswing to take 3.

Those skills are cool. Those skills make him complimentary player, not guy that you want build franchise around.

He is player who is hard -shots maker at college level where competition sucks. It's yet to be seen what happends if he is being chased around some Jeremy Grant with versitality, mobility & lenght to match his own. We know he was shut down by 6'7 wing at college who did nothing special but played glue on him.

1. We don't know that about Mpj, though I like this comparison a lot more.
What we know about Mpj is that at a very young age with minimal experience he was already one of the best scorers in the league and earned a max contract despite the injury concerns, I would take Mpj without the injuries over any of the other prospects.

2. Being able to space the floor, carry the scoring load and drawing attention on offense will make your teammates better, and are we assuming that he is already a final product will never develop any of his skills?

Smith has areas that he can improve on. all the top prospects do. this is a draft that can get a GM fired by passing on a prospect. There is high bust risk on all the prospects.

Porter was what, 20 when he was drafted? so a year older than Smith. go look at pre-draft scouting reports on MPJ.

he lacks the necessary advanced dribble moves to separate from quality defenders on a consistent basis

Ball handling has improved but still needs to improve his overall ball skills, especially with his left hand

Doesn’t create much off the dribble or have a lot of shiftiness in his game… Has to move without the ball and have separation before receiving it to create space … Relies on outjumping opponents at this stage, will need to improve offensive game moving forward … His pull up game can be predictable and won’t come as easy at the next level … If his shot isn’t falling, he doesn’t always have a way to get easy baskets

Doesn’t have a wide variety to his scoring arsenal. Doesn’t provide much in the half court outside of catching and shooting over defense

-Can improve his handle, especially with his off hand. Has the skill set of a perimeter four man at this stage. Struggles to create versus pressure. -Has some vision but isn't always the most willing passer. Will force up contested jumpers rather than moving the ball.

Ehh.

Draft net:

At 6-10 with a 7-0 wingspan and 9-0 standing reach, he has the frame to be one of the league’s most physically gifted combo forwards … For perspective, Porter’s standing reach is equal to what Anthony Davis measured at the draft combine in 2012 … Porter combines fluid athleticism with comfort as a ball handler, three-level scorer and flashes of playmaking and defense

With big-man size, Porter plays the game of a wing around the perimeter. He's a high-level shot-maker capable of connecting with range off the catch and dribble by pulling up or falling away. Porter is a face-up player who'll slash in line drives, and he shows good coordination off one foot in the lane using runners and various one-handers. At the U18 Americas Championship, he averaged 15.8 points in just 21.0 minutes for USA.

Porter Jr. is perhaps the best wing/combo-forward scoring prospect to enter the draft since Kevin Durant a decade ago. He isn’t Durant, lacking that combination of handle and generational off the dribble shooting (along with plus length), but he’s a notch above everyone else as a shooter especially. Porter Jr. might be best utilized in a Paul George type role as primarily a gravity shooter off pin-downs and screens with his size, but there might be more handling upside if he shows comfort here at Missouri

Standing at least 6'10", Porter plays like a guard and is a fluid and agile athlete. He has elite size as a combo three/four forward. Primary scorers on the wing at his size with his skill do not come around often. He has long strides, is very coordinated and is a very good transition player, handling the ball well in the open floor and gliding to the rim where he draws fouls and is pretty explosive as a leaper.

Issue with Porter was 3 games sample . But before season he was viewed as hands down 1st overall pick.
And Porter is still good player, non less, but he is nowhere what he was hyped to be. What he is isn't bad, but isn't worth top 5 selectoin. He is 3 levels scorer ( Jabari isn't ) who makes life off making hard shots. And it's fine. It's fine because both Murray and Jokic are better players than him so he is left alone and in single coverage to take adventage over his defenders. Jabari, regardless does he end up on OKC, Magic or Rockets won't have that luxury.

Arytype of player Jabari Smith seems to be simply isn't player that should be 1st overall pick.

This is only a debate because Holmgren in terms of body development looks like Pokuševski and it scares fans and probably lot of Gms.

[basketballRob]

1. We don't know that about Mpj, though I like this comparison a lot more.
What we know about Mpj is that at a very young age with minimal experience he was already one of the best scorers in the league and earned a max contract despite the injury concerns, I would take Mpj without the injuries over any of the other prospects.

2. Being able to space the floor, carry the scoring load and drawing attention on offense will make your teammates better, and are we assuming that he is already a final product will never develop any of his skills?

Smith has areas that he can improve on. all the top prospects do. this is a draft that can get a GM fired by passing on a prospect. There is high bust risk on all the prospects.

Porter was what, 20 when he was drafted? so a year older than Smith. go look at pre-draft scouting reports on MPJ.

he lacks the necessary advanced dribble moves to separate from quality defenders on a consistent basis

Ball handling has improved but still needs to improve his overall ball skills, especially with his left hand

Doesn’t create much off the dribble or have a lot of shiftiness in his game… Has to move without the ball and have separation before receiving it to create space … Relies on outjumping opponents at this stage, will need to improve offensive game moving forward … His pull up game can be predictable and won’t come as easy at the next level … If his shot isn’t falling, he doesn’t always have a way to get easy baskets

Doesn’t have a wide variety to his scoring arsenal. Doesn’t provide much in the half court outside of catching and shooting over defense

-Can improve his handle, especially with his off hand. Has the skill set of a perimeter four man at this stage. Struggles to create versus pressure. -Has some vision but isn't always the most willing passer. Will force up contested jumpers rather than moving the ball.

Ehh.

Draft net:

At 6-10 with a 7-0 wingspan and 9-0 standing reach, he has the frame to be one of the league’s most physically gifted combo forwards … For perspective, Porter’s standing reach is equal to what Anthony Davis measured at the draft combine in 2012 … Porter combines fluid athleticism with comfort as a ball handler, three-level scorer and flashes of playmaking and defense

With big-man size, Porter plays the game of a wing around the perimeter. He's a high-level shot-maker capable of connecting with range off the catch and dribble by pulling up or falling away. Porter is a face-up player who'll slash in line drives, and he shows good coordination off one foot in the lane using runners and various one-handers. At the U18 Americas Championship, he averaged 15.8 points in just 21.0 minutes for USA.

Porter Jr. is perhaps the best wing/combo-forward scoring prospect to enter the draft since Kevin Durant a decade ago. He isn’t Durant, lacking that combination of handle and generational off the dribble shooting (along with plus length), but he’s a notch above everyone else as a shooter especially. Porter Jr. might be best utilized in a Paul George type role as primarily a gravity shooter off pin-downs and screens with his size, but there might be more handling upside if he shows comfort here at Missouri

Standing at least 6'10", Porter plays like a guard and is a fluid and agile athlete. He has elite size as a combo three/four forward. Primary scorers on the wing at his size with his skill do not come around often. He has long strides, is very coordinated and is a very good transition player, handling the ball well in the open floor and gliding to the rim where he draws fouls and is pretty explosive as a leaper.

Issue with Porter was 3 games sample . But before season he was viewed as hands down 1st overall pick.
And Porter is still good player, non less, but he is nowhere what he was hyped to be. What he is isn't bad, but isn't worth top 5 selectoin. He is 3 levels scorer ( Jabari isn't ) who makes life off making hard shots. And it's fine. It's fine because both Murray and Jokic are better players than him so he is left alone and in single coverage to take adventage over his defenders. Jabari, regardless does he end up on OKC, Magic or Rockets won't have that luxury.

MPJ has missed years of development and he doesn't have the lateral quickness that Jabari does on defense. MPJ is so bad defensively that they had to take him off the floor in critical possessions.





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[tiderulz]

1. We don't know that about Mpj, though I like this comparison a lot more.
What we know about Mpj is that at a very young age with minimal experience he was already one of the best scorers in the league and earned a max contract despite the injury concerns, I would take Mpj without the injuries over any of the other prospects.

2. Being able to space the floor, carry the scoring load and drawing attention on offense will make your teammates better, and are we assuming that he is already a final product will never develop any of his skills?

Smith has areas that he can improve on. all the top prospects do. this is a draft that can get a GM fired by passing on a prospect. There is high bust risk on all the prospects.

Porter was what, 20 when he was drafted? so a year older than Smith. go look at pre-draft scouting reports on MPJ.

he lacks the necessary advanced dribble moves to separate from quality defenders on a consistent basis

Ball handling has improved but still needs to improve his overall ball skills, especially with his left hand

Doesn’t create much off the dribble or have a lot of shiftiness in his game… Has to move without the ball and have separation before receiving it to create space … Relies on outjumping opponents at this stage, will need to improve offensive game moving forward … His pull up game can be predictable and won’t come as easy at the next level … If his shot isn’t falling, he doesn’t always have a way to get easy baskets

Doesn’t have a wide variety to his scoring arsenal. Doesn’t provide much in the half court outside of catching and shooting over defense

-Can improve his handle, especially with his off hand. Has the skill set of a perimeter four man at this stage. Struggles to create versus pressure. -Has some vision but isn't always the most willing passer. Will force up contested jumpers rather than moving the ball.

Ehh.

Draft net:

At 6-10 with a 7-0 wingspan and 9-0 standing reach, he has the frame to be one of the league’s most physically gifted combo forwards … For perspective, Porter’s standing reach is equal to what Anthony Davis measured at the draft combine in 2012 … Porter combines fluid athleticism with comfort as a ball handler, three-level scorer and flashes of playmaking and defense

With big-man size, Porter plays the game of a wing around the perimeter. He's a high-level shot-maker capable of connecting with range off the catch and dribble by pulling up or falling away. Porter is a face-up player who'll slash in line drives, and he shows good coordination off one foot in the lane using runners and various one-handers. At the U18 Americas Championship, he averaged 15.8 points in just 21.0 minutes for USA.

Porter Jr. is perhaps the best wing/combo-forward scoring prospect to enter the draft since Kevin Durant a decade ago. He isn’t Durant, lacking that combination of handle and generational off the dribble shooting (along with plus length), but he’s a notch above everyone else as a shooter especially. Porter Jr. might be best utilized in a Paul George type role as primarily a gravity shooter off pin-downs and screens with his size, but there might be more handling upside if he shows comfort here at Missouri

Standing at least 6'10", Porter plays like a guard and is a fluid and agile athlete. He has elite size as a combo three/four forward. Primary scorers on the wing at his size with his skill do not come around often. He has long strides, is very coordinated and is a very good transition player, handling the ball well in the open floor and gliding to the rim where he draws fouls and is pretty explosive as a leaper.

Issue with Porter was 3 games sample . But before season he was viewed as hands down 1st overall pick.
And Porter is still good player, non less, but he is nowhere what he was hyped to be. What he is isn't bad, but isn't worth top 5 selectoin. He is 3 levels scorer ( Jabari isn't ) who makes life off making hard shots. And it's fine. It's fine because both Murray and Jokic are better players than him so he is left alone and in single coverage to take adventage over his defenders. Jabari, regardless does he end up on OKC, Magic or Rockets won't have that luxury.

Arytype of player Jabari Smith seems to be simply isn't player that should be 1st overall pick.

This is only a debate because Holmgren in terms of body development looks like Pokuševski and it scares fans and probably lot of Gms.

again, you dont get to choose when you use your #1 pick. there is no hands down star in this draft, but we still have to choose. and yes, i only quoted his weaknesses, but different scouts all pointed to his needing a better handle, a criticism of Smith.

[basketballRob]

I think Jabari is more likely to develop a better handle than Chet is to gain weight. We should know better than anyone that certain body types just don't add weight. I think Chet's body is pretty much what it's going to be. He'll likely have to play PF during his career. He's not going to stop the Embiid or Grant Williams type players.

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[pepe1991]

Smith has areas that he can improve on. all the top prospects do. this is a draft that can get a GM fired by passing on a prospect. There is high bust risk on all the prospects.

Porter was what, 20 when he was drafted? so a year older than Smith. go look at pre-draft scouting reports on MPJ.

Ehh.

Draft net:

At 6-10 with a 7-0 wingspan and 9-0 standing reach, he has the frame to be one of the league’s most physically gifted combo forwards … For perspective, Porter’s standing reach is equal to what Anthony Davis measured at the draft combine in 2012 … Porter combines fluid athleticism with comfort as a ball handler, three-level scorer and flashes of playmaking and defense

With big-man size, Porter plays the game of a wing around the perimeter. He's a high-level shot-maker capable of connecting with range off the catch and dribble by pulling up or falling away. Porter is a face-up player who'll slash in line drives, and he shows good coordination off one foot in the lane using runners and various one-handers. At the U18 Americas Championship, he averaged 15.8 points in just 21.0 minutes for USA.

Porter Jr. is perhaps the best wing/combo-forward scoring prospect to enter the draft since Kevin Durant a decade ago. He isn’t Durant, lacking that combination of handle and generational off the dribble shooting (along with plus length), but he’s a notch above everyone else as a shooter especially. Porter Jr. might be best utilized in a Paul George type role as primarily a gravity shooter off pin-downs and screens with his size, but there might be more handling upside if he shows comfort here at Missouri

Standing at least 6'10", Porter plays like a guard and is a fluid and agile athlete. He has elite size as a combo three/four forward. Primary scorers on the wing at his size with his skill do not come around often. He has long strides, is very coordinated and is a very good transition player, handling the ball well in the open floor and gliding to the rim where he draws fouls and is pretty explosive as a leaper.

Issue with Porter was 3 games sample . But before season he was viewed as hands down 1st overall pick.
And Porter is still good player, non less, but he is nowhere what he was hyped to be. What he is isn't bad, but isn't worth top 5 selectoin. He is 3 levels scorer ( Jabari isn't ) who makes life off making hard shots. And it's fine. It's fine because both Murray and Jokic are better players than him so he is left alone and in single coverage to take adventage over his defenders. Jabari, regardless does he end up on OKC, Magic or Rockets won't have that luxury.

Arytype of player Jabari Smith seems to be simply isn't player that should be 1st overall pick.

This is only a debate because Holmgren in terms of body development looks like Pokuševski and it scares fans and probably lot of Gms.

again, you dont get to choose when you use your #1 pick. there is no hands down star in this draft, but we still have to choose. and yes, i only quoted his weaknesses, but different scouts all pointed to his needing a better handle, a criticism of Smith.

Level of competition probably was a** +but you can't tell me that Porter didn't have handles even before college.
Jabari isn't even straight driver. He is definition of player who does pretty much nothing else but shoot over people.