Round 2: Tyler Smith

[MickeyDavis]

Discuss

[Matches Malone]

Another swing but at 33 it's fine.

[MickeyDavis]

I'll add a poll after the initial reactions and overreactions subside.

[Ron Swanson]

I like this.

[RiotPunch]

Another guy Doc doesn't have to worry about playing next year. Great shooter, huge defensive project. High upside guy again.

[bucksfansince88]

Love it, our young core has plenty of potential. hope these dudes work hard and dedicate to the craft

[ReasonablySober]

Fun one. Was #2 on my favorites heading into today.

I love our draft. Young upside dudes.

[The Wet Whistle]

Yeah, sure

[bucksfansince88]

Horst got me a lefty as requested!

[Ryan5UW]

I thought we took that Marquette dbag when they first started announcing the pick.

[benultimate]

Much better pick. Probably same early impact though.

[ReginaldDwight]

Like it more than our first rounder. See how shooting translates going forward but he’s gonna learn to actually want to play d

[FrieAaron]

K, really like this one. I think I was his paramour. Is that correct, Emunney?

[Bernman]

Now that's a Horst guy! Project w/ role player upside. He doesn't have ball skills. People who are saying high upside, this is the type of guy that has fake upside for that reason.

Only difference from the Horst prototype is he's younger. Typically they're old projects. I predicted, half seriously, this would be our 1st rd pick. I said I'd have hated it. I don't hate it (it's mediocre), but would have preferred a ready role guy.

I hope they somehow still trade the pick ex post facto, but they probably won't.

[German Athens]

After these two picks, I think ShootingtheJ may burn down Milwaukee.

[engelmartin]

It wasn’t oso or bobo! A+

[SupremeHustle]

Trade both our picks for Devin Booker. Does that work under the cap's apron?

[M-C-G]

Analysis

A true power forward who will hit threes and be a constant lob threat, Smith’s services are always a positional commodity. Smith is best when he can get downhill out of pick-and-roll, setting up dunks and showcasing his fluidity and ambidexterity. He is worse at finishing in traffic, converting just 49.1 percent of his layups, which ranked in the 24th percentile among all G League players. Smith knocking down 37.7 percent of 180 catch-and-shoot threes this year must be respected and is extremely gravitational for a frontcourt player. A 56:53 AST:TO ratio is a strong starting foundation for his offensive processing, especially in the context of an Ignite environment that could be dysfunctional at times.

Projection

Smith exits the 2024 NBA Combine with nearly identical measurements to John Collins, emblematic of the his next-level athleticism. If Smith improves his technique as a finisher, he has serious upside as an elite role player and/or capable starter. His physical profile makes him an impactful offensive rebounder, multi-level defender and screener — with athleticism and shooting to be a dynamic offensive weapon via rolling and popping after screening. Smith runs the floor hard and is a fiery competitor. Smith is best viewed as a play-finisher, but the iteration of Christian Wood who averaged 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals plus blocks in 2021-22 across a full season with Houston is the ceiling for Smith. An all-around impact similar to Tari Eason is also on the table. Smith’s ability to defend on the wings is indicative of his modern-day skills, but 2005 No.2 overall pick Marvin Williams’ late-career balance can be drawn as a parallel to Smith, as well.

— Profile by RotoWire

[MVP2110]

I LOVE the Tyler Smith pick! Was 3rd on my big board for realistic guys at #23 behind Ware & Shannon Jr. He is another long term play though

[Frank Nova]

Hell yeah! Great pick. Kid said he models his game after Keegan Murray, Jabari Smith jr and Chris Bosh. Me likey.