Tune In: The Nick Smith Jr Thread

Rich4114 · Post #21 » by **Rich4114** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 1:41 pm

Excited about this pick. I assumed he would be gone around the Pelicans pick.

Robot Rock · Post #22 » by **Robot Rock** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 1:45 pm

Shame he'll be in Greensboro for longer than he should, but that's the way this team operates. He deserves a spot over Bouknight, but he's gonna have to get arrested at least once to fit in with the parent club.

Radu_Hornets · Post #23 » by **Radu_Hornets** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 2:14 pm

Is this the pick we got in exchange of last years 11 pick ?

JMAC3 · Post #24 » by **JMAC3** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 2:15 pm

I like that as the #1 recruit in the country he stayed in state and went to Arkansas.

If he turns into what I thought Bouk could be we crushed the pick.
10-12 ppg off the bench.

Post #25 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:28 pm

Is this guy better than Bouk from day 1? What about Bryce?

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JMAC3 · Post #26 » by **JMAC3** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:37 pm

fatlever wrote:Is this guy better than Bouk from day 1? What about Bryce?

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Absolutely from the eye test and scoring pop, but 19 year old guards are usually pretty awful at real nba basketball.

Braggins · Post #27 » by **Braggins** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:43 pm

I watched every single one of his Arkansas games. Hes terrilble and I had him ranked last out of all the players i ended ranking (38 total I think).

Post #28 » by **fatlever** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:44 pm

Braggins wrote:I watched every single one of his Arkansas games. Hes terrilble and I had him ranked last out of all the players i ended ranking (38 total I think).

Yikes

It definitely seems like Mitch or our front office in general has a love affair with these types of players.

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JMAC3 · Post #29 » by **JMAC3** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:57 pm

Braggins wrote:I watched every single one of his Arkansas games. Hes terrilble and I had him ranked last out of all the players i ended ranking (38 total I think).

Exclude the games he played 4/6 mins in because he shouldn't of been active.
He played 15 games of 36 games. If you think he was just fully healthy in those 15 games that is wild.
He also averaged 14.2 ppg in those 15 games.

Then take into account he was 18 years old and a top 3 recruit. Last out of 38 is wild my man.

wilson115 · Post #30 » by **wilson115** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 9:58 pm

Braggins wrote:I watched every single one of his Arkansas games. Hes terrilble and I had him ranked last out of all the players i ended ranking (38 total I think).

For once you and Dean see things the same way. Yikes.

https://deanondraft.substack.com/p/2023-draft-grades-pick-by-pick

Bassman · Post #31 » by **Bassman** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 12:01 am

Junior’s shown stretches of greatness and of mediocrity. He couldn’t have had a worse set of circumstances than his season at Arkansas. Many questions, and high potential for both success or bust. Most analysts praised the pick as super value relative to risk/reward.

JMAC3 · Post #32 » by **JMAC3** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 1:33 pm

According to official article on Hornets site, Nick Smith is 6-5 with a 6-8 wingspan.

https://www.nba.com/hornets/news/with-chip-on-his-shoulder-nick-smith-jr-is-ready-to-get-to-work

GoBobs · Post #33 » by **GoBobs** » Sat Jun 24, 2023 4:08 pm

We will see what happens with the knee. I don't like the description "right knee management."
https://www.bestofarkansassports.com/arkansas-basketball-nick-smith-jr-injury-update-eric-musselman/

Hopefully he wasn't managing a chronic problem. That would explain why you would go ahead and enter the draft rather than return to school to improve position though.

When he did play, I thought he played pretty well.

Arkansas was a weird team. The only guys that could really create something in the games I watched were Nick Smith, and Ricky Council 4, and some times Anthony Black. Ricky Council 4 is like another microwave scorer that can play but doesn't really make other players around him better. Anthony Black (4 ast, 3 turnovers per gm) is vastly overrated as a pg/playmaker because he puts his head down to much when he drives and his hair is like blinders. And they had a bunch of bigs that were good athletes and good on defense but did not have a high basketball skill level overall.

So.. yeah, Nick Smith Jr never looked like he got in a rhythm where he looked exactly right, but the whole team had no rhythm, nobody could shoot and only three guys could really hurt you so teams could key in on them. They were all engaged and played with effort on defense.

Smith Jr does a good job of being a pest on that side of the ball. He is always engaged and plays with good effort. He understands how to get in a defenders space in a way that makes them uncomfortable without fouling. His weakness on defense is he gets picked off with screens easily due to his size.

He didn't measure at the combine as other have mentioned but if I had to guess I would say he is 6'3'' 180 lb with slightly better than average wingspan and standing reach.

If he is able to bulk up a little and remain injury free I think he will be good. Not ready to write off Bouknight yet while we have another year of rookie salary to see what he does. His encouraging play in the G-League and the couple games he got hot for the big team are just enough for me to hold a tiny sliver of hope he can turn it around.

Radu_Hornets · Post #34 » by **Radu_Hornets** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 2:16 pm

For what it’s worth, even in France they’re talking about a possible steal for the Hornets with Dennis smith Junior

https://www.basketusa.com/news/695318/nick-smith-jr-a-des-allures-de-steal-aux-hornets/

Soul Rebel · Post #35 » by **Soul Rebel** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 7:11 pm

LIke the pick and vision of taking a swing on NSJ. No guarantee he ends up in that "lottery pick" status, but worth a shot at 27.

He does not need to sniff Charlotte this year unless we are dead in the water post-All Star break. He needs to get stronger in GBoro and make sure he is fully healthy. He's essentially been out of basketball for a year and needs to get his confidence back.

I think he has the potential to be sixth-man type of player with his ceiling being a Jamal Murray if everything clicks. Would love his energy off the bench and don't think he currently pairs well with 'Melo.

Things can change, but a rotational spark plug off the bench with potential starter minutes in him is my expectation at pick 27.

UNCNYC · Post #36 » by **UNCNYC** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 11:03 pm

A simple thread name

American Pie - The Nick Smith Jr Thread

JMAC3 · Post #37 » by **JMAC3** » Sun Jun 25, 2023 11:50 pm

Will be interesting to see who Clifford trusts more to run pg between him and Amari.

JMAC3 · Post #38 » by **JMAC3** » Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:12 am

He is really comfortable operating with little airspace.
Off the dribble he has no issues raising up and shooting a midrange, push shot or floater with a defender on his hip.
Most of his fouls drawn is just because defender is so surprised, he is shooting the ball while covered so closely.
More confident in his outside shooting that his 3pt% says, shot 34% but he made 24 in really just 15 games played.
Isn't great at getting all the way to the rim, but he actually has a pretty great first step.

Actually, like the combo of Bailey, NSJ moving forward as they bring different skills to the table.

UNCNYC · Post #39 » by **UNCNYC** » Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:30 am

American Pie - The Nick Smith Jr Thread

Jiggy Wit It - The Nick Smith JR Thread

LofJ · Post #40 » by **LofJ** » Mon Jun 26, 2023 4:37 pm

Nick Smith is the anti-Bouknight. If there is a pathway to success I think he's going to find it.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nick-smith-interview-nba-draft-arkansas-scouting-report

https://247sports.com/longformarticle/why-nick-smith-jr-allowed-himself-to-fail-arkansas-nba-draft-com-210608630/#2171884