Welcome Zhaire Smith

[LloydFree]

Zhaire Smith was a bad pick, this would become much clearer in the next seasons... The trade was excellent, but the selection awful...

This is the first time that I can remember in which I'm not excited about our rookies at all. Maybe a little about Bolden, but that's all...

You were excited by what they did in the 2015 Draft? Then I don't know what to say. If you've been excited by the BS they've done from 2015-2017 (excluding Simmons) then it's hard to believe picking Zhaire Smith at #16 could raise an eyebrow.

[ivysixer2000]

OG you can actually see a path to being an important defensive role player, especially with his new found 3pt stroke. He can defend 1-4 with his unique size and mobility. I was scared of his knee injury, but that ended up not being too much of a concern.

If Zhaire can be a shut down defender on the opposing PG and can defend up to SF while having a decent stroke from deep, then he's a fine role player. I just don't see him locking up the Westbrooks and Irvings of the league.

If Zhaire can develop some handles to go along with all of that, he could be more than a role player....but of course that's a big 'if'.

[Negrodamus]

OG you can actually see a path to being an important defensive role player, especially with his new found 3pt stroke. He can defend 1-4 with his unique size and mobility. I was scared of his knee injury, but that ended up not being too much of a concern.

If Zhaire can be a shut down defender on the opposing PG and can defend up to SF while having a decent stroke from deep, then he's a fine role player. I just don't see him locking up the Westbrooks and Irvings of the league.

If Zhaire can develop some handles to go along with all of that, he could be more than a role player....but of course that's a big 'if'.

It rarely does happen, which was why he wasn’t really an option for me.

[76ciology]

OG has elite length. 7’6 wingspan. Big difference.
If zhaire has OG’s length, he’d be a surefire top 3 pick.

[76ciology]

My guess is zhaire’s upside as a player who can space the floor, defend 1-3 and be excellent finisher in transition is a huge selling point for us given our personnel (Ben and Fultz). Maybe we do see him as the perfect guy who can play with Ben and Fultz.

Maybe we see Zhaire-Fultz-Ben as a 1-2-3 trio as a good counter for any 1-2-3 trio in the league given their unique profile and skillset.

Personally, I see him as a G version of what Iggy’s role is to the Warriors. Where we can insert him and create a lot of chaos for opponent due to their unconventional dynamics.

Zhaire
Fultz
Ben
Roco
Biid

You can defend any unit in the league, big or small and yet you can generate mismatches on halfcourt and be a natural mismatch on transition.

[Negrodamus]

OG has elite length. 7’6 wingspan. Big difference.
If zhaire has OG’s length, he’d be a surefire top 3 pick.

7'2.25" wingspan at the NBA combine.

[thejuice17]

Mikal is better. Way more skilled as a shooter and has more useful size. That's besides the point because we shouldn't have selected Mikal at #10, in the first place.

no way

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[thejuice17]

OG you can actually see a path to being an important defensive role player, especially with his new found 3pt stroke. He can defend 1-4 with his unique size and mobility. I was scared of his knee injury, but that ended up not being too much of a concern.

If Zhaire can be a shut down defender on the opposing PG and can defend up to SF while having a decent stroke from deep, then he's a fine role player. I just don't see him locking up the Westbrooks and Irvings of the league.

If Zhaire can develop some handles to go along with all of that, he could be more than a role player....but of course that's a big 'if'.

he will be an all star

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[Kobblehead]

Zhaire and OG are the same in that they're high IQ, low maintenance defensive stoppers with no real offensive skill. Obviously they have different bodies. And Zhaire being pint-sized by comparison makes him less valuable and limits the amount of positions he can defend comparatively.

[Kolkmania]

Zhaire and OG are the same in that they're high IQ, low maintenance defensive stoppers with no real offensive skill. Obviously they have different bodies. And Zhaire being pint-sized by comparison makes him less valuable and limits the amount of positions he can defend comparatively.

I'm probably the biggest OG fan around (had him in my top 10 in 2017 draft), but despite being limited, Zhaire is a far better dribbler than OG. Anunoby couldn't dribble 4 times without dribbling it off his foot. So I'd say that Anunoby is a far more versatile defender, but Zhaire is the better offensive player at his age.

[Kobblehead]

If Anunoby's dribbling ability is crimson and Smith's is blood orange, I don't think it's even notable enough to bring up the discrepancy. Neither player will likely ever function in an on-ball role. If either ever touches the ball outside of transition, putbacks or c&s opportunities, you're likely coming away with an empty possession.

[Negrodamus]

I’ll withhold judgement until Zhaire shoots an NBA three, but OG hitting 37% from three in his rookie season put him as a more impressive offensive NBA player than Zhaire at the moment.

[Chris76]

Zhaire and OG are the same in that they're high IQ, low maintenance defensive stoppers with no real offensive skill. Obviously they have different bodies. And Zhaire being pint-sized by comparison makes him less valuable and limits the amount of positions he can defend comparatively.

I'm probably the biggest OG fan around (had him in my top 10 in 2017 draft), but despite being limited, Zhaire is a far better dribbler than OG. Anunoby couldn't dribble 4 times without dribbling it off his foot. So I'd say that Anunoby is a far more versatile defender, but Zhaire is the better offensive player at his age.

Good points, Zhaire' s dribbling needs work, but his passing looks good. He dribbles enough to get a good angle. Maybe, he could average around 5 assists a game.

[LloydFree]

I’ll withhold judgement until Zhaire shoots an NBA three, but OG hitting 37% from three in his rookie season put him as a more impressive offensive NBA player than Zhaire at the moment.

OG hitting 37% is all but a fluke. He can't hit anything except wide-open, feet-set, corner threes, and his form is a Trainwreck. Zhaire has way better shooting potential than OG.

[Kobblehead]

Justise Winslow: 38% from three (54% of attempts in the corner)
OG Anunoby: 37% from three (53% of attempts in the corner)

Brett Brown BETTER make Zhaire live in the corner, too. You can often disguise bad shooters as league average ones.

[Negrodamus]

I’ll withhold judgement until Zhaire shoots an NBA three, but OG hitting 37% from three in his rookie season put him as a more impressive offensive NBA player than Zhaire at the moment.

OG hitting 37% is all but a fluke. He can't hit anything except wide-open, feet-set, corner threes, and his form is a Trainwreck. Zhaire has way better shooting potential than OG.

Could be a fluke, but I need to see Zhaire do the same thing before I consider him a threat from three.

As a rookie, OG far exceeded expectations and did what he needed in his role. Not saying Zhaire won't, but I need to see it first before saying he's a better offensive player than OG.

[LloydFree]

I’ll withhold judgement until Zhaire shoots an NBA three, but OG hitting 37% from three in his rookie season put him as a more impressive offensive NBA player than Zhaire at the moment.

OG hitting 37% is all but a fluke. He can't hit anything except wide-open, feet-set, corner threes, and his form is a Trainwreck. Zhaire has way better shooting potential than OG.

Could be a fluke, but I need to see Zhaire do the same thing before I consider him a threat from three.

As a rookie, OG far exceeded expectations and did what he needed in his role. Not saying Zhaire won't, but I need to see it first before saying he's a better offensive player than OG.

I don't know where this thought started, that OG Anunoby and Zhaire Smith are, in any way, comparable shooters. OG Anunoby was a 47% Ft shooter as a Freshman. Shot 56% as a sophomore and 62% as a rookie. Zhaire Smith shot FT's at 71% as a Freshman. Zhaire Smith has good form on his shot. OG Anunoby has terribe form on his shot. How is OG Anunoby being brought up as an example of what should be expected from Zhaire Smith?

OG likely being a better defender? Yes, I can see that.
OG maybe being a better ballhandler? Very doubtful, but I wouldn't argue the point.
OG likely being a better shooter? No. There is nothing that says that should be the case.

[sixers hoops]

OG hitting 37% is all but a fluke. He can't hit anything except wide-open, feet-set, corner threes, and his form is a Trainwreck. Zhaire has way better shooting potential than OG.

Could be a fluke, but I need to see Zhaire do the same thing before I consider him a threat from three.

As a rookie, OG far exceeded expectations and did what he needed in his role. Not saying Zhaire won't, but I need to see it first before saying he's a better offensive player than OG.

I don't know where this thought started, that OG Anunoby and Zhaire Smith are, in any way, comparable shooters. OG Anunoby was a 47% Ft shooter as a Freshman. Shot 56% as a sophomore and 62% as a rookie. Zhaire Smith shot FT's at 71% as a Freshman. Zhaire Smith has good form on his shot. OG Anunoby has terribe form on his shot. How is OG Anunoby being brought up as an example of what should be expected from Zhaire Smith?

OG likely being a better defender? Yes, I can see that.
OG maybe being a better ballhandler? Very doubtful, but I wouldn't argue the point.
OG likely being a better shooter? No. There is nothing that says that should be the case.

Zhaire’s shot looks good shooting in an open gym, so I’m excited to see how that translates in the game. The form seems to be there.

[Negrodamus]

OG hitting 37% is all but a fluke. He can't hit anything except wide-open, feet-set, corner threes, and his form is a Trainwreck. Zhaire has way better shooting potential than OG.

Could be a fluke, but I need to see Zhaire do the same thing before I consider him a threat from three.

As a rookie, OG far exceeded expectations and did what he needed in his role. Not saying Zhaire won't, but I need to see it first before saying he's a better offensive player than OG.

I don't know where this thought started, that OG Anunoby and Zhaire Smith are, in any way, comparable shooters. OG Anunoby was a 47% Ft shooter as a Freshman. Shot 56% as a sophomore and 62% as a rookie. Zhaire Smith shot FT's at 71% as a Freshman. Zhaire Smith has good form on his shot. OG Anunoby has terribe form on his shot. How is OG Anunoby being brought up as an example of what should be expected from Zhaire Smith?

OG likely being a better defender? Yes, I can see that.
OG maybe being a better ballhandler? Very doubtful, but I wouldn't argue the point.
OG likely being a better shooter? No. There is nothing that says that should be the case.

I'm not sure why we're comparing them as shooters. I was comparing them as offensive prospects in the NBA. Zhaire hasn't taken an NBA shot yet so we don't know if he's even able to baseline be OG Anunoby as a 3&D in the NBA.

And I wouldn't use Zhaire Smith's FT% in college as an indicator that he's going to be a knockdown shooter at the next level. Yea, his form looks good, but he's yet to be a legit threat from three. His .144 3Pr was not impressive (OG at least had a .369 SO; .250 Fresh).

I'm not sure where the confidence is coming from that Zhaire is a better offensive prospect in the NBA than OG. They both need a lot of work and Zhaire needs to prove he can, at minimum, fit in offensively like OG has.

[Negrodamus]

I also don't know where this idea of OG currently having a train wreck form came from. It's not perfect by any means, but if Ben trotted out with this next year, I'd be ecstatic.

Watch on YouTube

I'm actually impressed with his improvement each year that the FT line. 47% as a freshman to 62% now is quite good for a guy who had a broken shot.