Jabari Smith Jr. - Auburn

[CptCrunch]

Here is a thought experiment, what went wrong with Jabari's development? Who imo was the most awesome 3&D prospect to come out in the past few years.

Did he just not have enough talent? Or did the mock fail to evaluate his game correctly?

Did he not have enough work ethic? Can't know this unless we have corporate spies.

Or did Houston put him in a bad situation? Has been getting starts over 3 years 31 minutes game.

He is a solid player, gonna be a 12 year starter in the league, but he is on path to be a 3/4th option instad of the superstar we were hoping.

[HadAnEffectHere]

I mean, he can't dribble and his tools are whatever.

He needed to be an extremely elite shooter and he just wasn't.

[Chuck Everett]

He still looks (to me) like he's growing into his body. Similar to how Jaren Jackson was. There's a possibility that Houston gets to keep him on a cheaper deal he keeps improving as he gets stronger.

[greg4012]

Here is a thought experiment, what went wrong with Jabari's development? Who imo was the most awesome 3&D prospect to come out in the past few years.

Did he just not have enough talent? Or did the mock fail to evaluate his game correctly?

Did he not have enough work ethic? Can't know this unless we have corporate spies.

Or did Houston put him in a bad situation? Has been getting starts over 3 years 31 minutes game.

He is a solid player, gonna be a 12 year starter in the league, but he is on path to be a 3/4th option instad of the superstar we were hoping.

I bet he won't be a 12-year starter in the league.

[BlazersBroncos]

Here is a thought experiment, what went wrong with Jabari's development? Who imo was the most awesome 3&D prospect to come out in the past few years.

Did he just not have enough talent? Or did the mock fail to evaluate his game correctly?

Did he not have enough work ethic? Can't know this unless we have corporate spies.

Or did Houston put him in a bad situation? Has been getting starts over 3 years 31 minutes game.

He is a solid player, gonna be a 12 year starter in the league, but he is on path to be a 3/4th option instad of the superstar we were hoping.

I bet he won't be a 12-year starter in the league.

I think he for sure is. But I cant say 3rd option looks likely. 4th / 5th option.

[greg4012]

Here is a thought experiment, what went wrong with Jabari's development? Who imo was the most awesome 3&D prospect to come out in the past few years.

Did he just not have enough talent? Or did the mock fail to evaluate his game correctly?

Did he not have enough work ethic? Can't know this unless we have corporate spies.

Or did Houston put him in a bad situation? Has been getting starts over 3 years 31 minutes game.

He is a solid player, gonna be a 12 year starter in the league, but he is on path to be a 3/4th option instad of the superstar we were hoping.

I bet he won't be a 12-year starter in the league.

I think he for sure is. But I cant say 3rd option looks likely. 4th / 5th option.

If he can’t do the big man dirty work, isn’t a difference maker as a rim deterrent, can’t switch on guards on the perimeter, and doesn’t have a functional handle or any passing chops, what’s his function in most starting lineups?

[NO-KG-AI]

Here is a thought experiment, what went wrong with Jabari's development? Who imo was the most awesome 3&D prospect to come out in the past few years.

Did he just not have enough talent? Or did the mock fail to evaluate his game correctly?

Did he not have enough work ethic? Can't know this unless we have corporate spies.

Or did Houston put him in a bad situation? Has been getting starts over 3 years 31 minutes game.

He is a solid player, gonna be a 12 year starter in the league, but he is on path to be a 3/4th option instad of the superstar we were hoping.

He has no ability to get to the rim or attack off the dribble, and he never could.

My biggest question mark in college was why a 6’10 lead scorer who is a + athlete draws no fouls and gets almost no dunks or layups.

And you know what it was met with on this board? Being called a hater, or being told “wow, I guess they should just waste him in the dunker’s spot so he can get more dunks” or whatever. As if that’s what I was asking for from a guy that people were projecting as a primary scoring option.

This was the most predictable outcome if his handle and ability ro drive and not just take contested jumpers didn’t improve dramatically.

That said he’s still 21 and has a ton of time and possible development. I just think fluidity and creativity off the bounce is one of the harder things to develop. But he still has a ton to like. Someone like Trey Murphy is the desired development path. Jabari seems like he has more defensive acumen. Trey was a late bloomer, Jabari is like the same age or younger than Trey was as a rookie IIRC.

[greg4012]

Has a perimeter-oriented player ever gone from league-worst assist percentage (on volume minutes) to impact starter in a career?

[ReggiesKnicks]

Has a perimeter-oriented player ever gone from league-worst assist percentage (on volume minutes) to impact starter in a career?

Jabari Smith Jr was at 7% last year and is at 4% this year.

Rashard Lewis was in the 7% range his first 5 years.
Serge Ibaka was between 1% and 6% until his late 20s.
Antawn Jamison had a prime year at 4%, mostly between 8-10%.
Ryan Anderson was between 4-7% most of his career.

Its definitely possible but the odds aren't in his favor. Lucky for Jabari Smith Jr is he is a terrific defender and has good shooting roots. I don't ever expect him to be a game changing offensive players but I could see him as a cog in a good offensive system.

[Shock Defeat]

He was one of the best shooters in college, but he's not one of the best shooters in the NBA. That's probably his biggest issue, is that he can't make shots at a high enough clip to meet his potential ceiling. He's a versatile defender with length, contrary to what someone else said, he can switch onto smaller guards on the perimeter, and his rebounding is good no complaints there.

The issue is that offensively he's limited, he doesn't have the moves and he can't dribble well. So unless his shooting is really freaking good, he projects as a role player not a star.

[JMAC3]

He is a fine player once you accept he is just a 4th or 5th starter type of player. That might be fine in Houston but in general him being a top 3 pick he is a pretty big disappointment as a prospect.

[ReggiesKnicks]

He is a fine player once you accept he is just a 4th or 5th starter type of player. That might be fine in Houston but in general him being a top 3 pick he is a pretty big disappointment as a prospect.

Yeah both him and Paolo definitely not looking the part. Honestly Ivey has looked the best in a smaller sample size than both Jabari/Paolo.

[tmorgan]

He is a fine player once you accept he is just a 4th or 5th starter type of player. That might be fine in Houston but in general him being a top 3 pick he is a pretty big disappointment as a prospect.

Yeah both him and Paolo definitely not looking the part. Honestly Ivey has looked the best in a smaller sample size than both Jabari/Paolo.

Ehhhh…. Ivey has his own issues. His defense before this year was truly putrid, and this year he was a little better in terms of advanced numbers but by the eye test he still mostly sucked. With Detroit forging an identity as a strong defensive team, Ivey has a lot of work to do to keep his starting spot. Holland is raw offensively, but his defense is very solid for a rookie, he runs the break just as well as Ivey, and he’s a lot taller, so if he gets his shot to fall (looks fine, doesn’t go in), Ivey is on the block.

For someone that’s been coached his whole life by his family, Ivey’s instincts on D are total crap. Seems weird.

[CptCrunch]

Ace Bailey has most of the red flags Jabari had and arguably more. The only reason we think he might be better is that he 'looks' better.

I just can't put Ace at 3 based on feels alone.

[FrightCoward]

He is a fine player once you accept he is just a 4th or 5th starter type of player. That might be fine in Houston but in general him being a top 3 pick he is a pretty big disappointment as a prospect.

Yeah both him and Paolo definitely not looking the part. Honestly Ivey has looked the best in a smaller sample size than both Jabari/Paolo.

Paolo is a significantly better player than Jabari, who quite frankly is bad at basketball, at least on the offensive end. Yeah his efficiency isn’t where it still needs to be, but he was looking like an absolute monster early on this season until he got hurt and the injury clearly affected him and completely tanked his numbers for a while after returning from the IR. Since the all-star break he’s been back to playing like really well, but Orlando is a hot mess and continues to fail to put shooters around him and Franz.

I think you’ll see him make a similar step to what Cade did this season next year, as long as an Orlando actually does something to bring in guard talent and shooting.

[JMAC3]

Ace Bailey has most of the red flags Jabari had and arguably more. The only reason we think he might be better is that he 'looks' better.

I just can't put Ace at 3 based on feels alone.

Ace is a more efficient player inside the 3pt arc, Jabari shooting 43.5% from 2 at 6-10 in college was always his biggest red flag.
Ace is shooting 51.1% from inside the arc on a higher volume.
Jabari three point shot was very misleading and caused people to overlook his flaws.

I just trust Ace shot making and creation ability a lot more than I did Jabari at the same stage of their careers.

Jabari isn't horrible, but he is probably on pace to have a Harrison Barnes type of career at best right now.

[Saints14]

He was one of the best shooters in college, but he's not one of the best shooters in the NBA. That's probably his biggest issue, is that he can't make shots at a high enough clip to meet his potential ceiling. He's a versatile defender with length, contrary to what someone else said, he can switch onto smaller guards on the perimeter, and his rebounding is good no complaints there.

The issue is that offensively he's limited, he doesn't have the moves and he can't dribble well. So unless his shooting is really freaking good, he projects as a role player not a star.

Agreed, his lack of creation development is disappointing but not surprising given his limitations as a prospect. But Jabari being a sub-35% 3 point shooter so far is extremely disappointing, he had such a smooth stroke and was getting “bigger Klay Thompson” comps before the draft which spoke to his potential of having star impact without being a first option. There was always the floor with Jabari being big, a versatile defender and a good shooter and he’ll definitely be in the league a long time and make a lot of money, but I thought he’d be shooting 40+% from 3

[JMAC3]

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

okay - so you're confirming that today you're taking Amen over Jabari and moving forward?

Yes, by Feb 15th 2025. 1 year from now Amen will be without a doubt a much better prospect and player than Jabari Smith.

that's fine, but I know it's not based off anything on the ground just your predraft analysis of Amen.

Huh? Amen is already an elite defender, do you just want to ignore that completely?
Jabari was awful last year and he is okay this year, you keep wishing for that year 3 10 point jump.

yes

Multiple L's on a guy because of take lock Pre-Draft.

Nobody should be taking Jabari over Paolo or Amen moving forward. Yet I was told "hilariously bad takes" along with the normal insults/talked down to. You gotta love it.

[FrightCoward]

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

okay - so you're confirming that today you're taking Amen over Jabari and moving forward?

Yes, by Feb 15th 2025. 1 year from now Amen will be without a doubt a much better prospect and player than Jabari Smith.

Huh? Amen is already an elite defender, do you just want to ignore that completely?
Jabari was awful last year and he is okay this year, you keep wishing for that year 3 10 point jump.

yes

Multiple L's on a guy because of take lock Pre-Draft.

Nobody should be taking Jabari over Paolo or Amen moving forward. Yet I was told "hilariously bad takes" along with the normal insults/talked down to. You gotta love it.

Some truly cringe takes. Jabari is the definition of mid and he is what he is at this point. He hasn’t really improved at all since he entered the league and is just a good dude to come off the bench who plays decent defense and can hit some 3s from time-to-time. Definitely a bust for a #3 overall pick.

[JMAC3]

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

Jabari 7.4 ppg in the playoffs
Amen Thompson Jersey $79.99
Tickets to the Knicks/Celtics game 1 $400
Telling someone to quote you, but then ignoring them when they do because you won't ever admit you are wrong - PRICELESS