[Shams] Jabari Smith Jr extends in Houston for 5/122

[JMAC3]

I just think guys like PJ Washington and Santi Aldama are a good bit better than Jabari. Are they getting more money than Jabari?

People said the same thing about Patrick Williams when he signed his deal as it wasn’t a big percentage of the cap, doesn’t mean the deal can’t look awful.

[Texas Chuck]

I just think guys like PJ Washington and Santi Aldama are a good bit better than Jabari. Are they getting more money than Jabari?

People said the same thing about Patrick Williams when he signed his deal as it wasn’t a big percentage of the cap, doesn’t mean the deal can’t look awful.

Washington is better today. Is he better over the lifetimes of their new contracts? Not sure. Aldama might have a small edge offensively but Smith's edge defensively already makes him a better player.

We know you slotted the guy and thats cool, but like most 2nd contracts the team is baking in some expected improvement. If he doesn't yeah this deal won't age well. But that shouldn;t be our reasonable expectation for most likely outcome.

[JMAC3]

We are sure Jabari is better than Rui Hachimura?

[basketballwacko2]

I think the value of Jabari isn't that he's great at really anything, he's just pretty good at a lot of important things with great size. 6'11 guys who can shoot ok, defend pretty well, protect the rim some and rebound well are always going to be sought after, even if he doesn't take any kind of leap after his age 21 season. If he does this becomes a value deal

hes also got two more seasons before the end of age 23 lol hes very young

Smith turned 22 on May 13th.

Which means this coming season (2025-2026) will be his age 22 season and 2026-2027 will be his age 23 season.

I'm not sure what the point is here. The other poster said, "hes also got two more seasons before the end of age 23..." That is not true he will be 23 in 11 months. To have 2 more season before the age of 23 he'd have to be 20 now to go 24 months and not be 23 yet. That was my point.

[SkyHook]

Not sure people really recognize how difficult it is too be a good defensive team, while also being young. Most young players are AWFUL, even guys that ultimately become great players.

Bari is an excellent defender, and a big contributor to the Rockets defense.

He also just turned 22 years old... Twenty one players drafted last week are OLDER than Jabari. His deal is runs through age 27, which means 3rd deal should run through 31. He will be hovering between 11-13% of the cap during this contract, which is excellent, as he should continually improve every year as he ascends toward his peak (typically at age 27).

My least favorite trope in basketball. Not all young players improve; some plateau, some regress. Some never had the upside to begin with.

This contract won't be seen as quite the disastrous overpay that Green's is, but I don't like it for the Rockets. I'm trying to figure out what Smith's signature skill is. He's a somewhat positive defender (though one of the worst steal% in the league), a somewhat positive rebounder (though middling for his position), below league average efg & ts% (league average from the arc and midrange, dismal at the rim). Where does he excel? Everything about him screams mediocrity to me.

[K_chile22]

Smith turned 22 on May 13th.

Which means this coming season (2025-2026) will be his age 22 season and 2026-2027 will be his age 23 season.

I'm not sure what the point is here. The other poster said, "hes also got two more seasons before the end of age 23..." That is not true he will be 23 in 11 months. To have 2 more season before the age of 23 he'd have to be 20 now to go 24 months and not be 23 yet. That was my point.

Before THE END OF age 23. He will be 23 the entire 26/27 season

[basketballwacko2]

Which means this coming season (2025-2026) will be his age 22 season and 2026-2027 will be his age 23 season.

I'm not sure what the point is here. The other poster said, "hes also got two more seasons before the end of age 23..." That is not true he will be 23 in 11 months. To have 2 more season before the age of 23 he'd have to be 20 now to go 24 months and not be 23 yet. That was my point.

Before THE END OF age 23. He will be 23 the entire 26/27 season

OK maybe I misread it or did you edit it. Doesn't matter, maybe I misread it.

[K_chile22]

I'm not sure what the point is here. The other poster said, "hes also got two more seasons before the end of age 23..." That is not true he will be 23 in 11 months. To have 2 more season before the age of 23 he'd have to be 20 now to go 24 months and not be 23 yet. That was my point.

Before THE END OF age 23. He will be 23 the entire 26/27 season

OK maybe I misread it or did you edit it. Doesn't matter, maybe I misread it.

how did I edit it if you manually quoted it in your post lmao I can't edit your posts

[Xman]

[quote="SkyHook"][quote="LarsV8"]Not sure people really recognize how difficult it is too be a good defensive team, while also being young. Most young players are AWFUL, even guys that ultimately become great players.

Bari is an excellent defender, and a big contributor to the Rockets defense.

He also just turned 22 years old... Twenty one players drafted last week are OLDER than Jabari. His deal is runs through age 27, which means 3rd deal should run through 31. He will be hovering between 11-13% of the cap during this contract, which is excellent, as [b]he should continually improve every year as he ascends toward his peak[/b] (typically at age 27).[/quote]

My least favorite trope in basketball. Not all young players improve; some plateau, some regress. Some never had the upside to begin with.

This contract won't be seen as quite the disastrous overpay that Green's is, but I don't like it for the Rockets. I'm trying to figure out what Smith's signature skill is. He's a somewhat positive defender (though one of the worst steal% in the league), a somewhat positive rebounder (though middling for his position), below league average efg & ts% (league average from the arc and midrange, dismal at the rim). Where does he excel? Everything about him screams mediocrity to me.[/quote]

The dream scenario is that he gets his shot back - to looking like it did in college.
College: 2021-22 34 5.4 12.6 .429 16.9 7.4 2.0 1.1
That .429 in college three point percentage was great and most shooters get better in NBA.
I think the problem is the old coach was bad and left him sitting out there in one position with no help while letting the shooting guards try to drive.
Ime came in and focused on defense. Jabari has gotten a little bigger and focused on defense. The problem is his shot - while still a decent percentage 35%, does not look the same and is not consistent. I think the added muscle affected him a little. Also, he is working on "his handles" this offseason - hopefully in two ways, catching and shooting faster along with a dribble to create space to rise up and shoot.

So, the dream is a 6'10 guy with over 7 foot reach playing good defense and shooting over 42% on threes. That is why he is getting paid. If he learns from Durant - and emulates him - and gets that shot going - then he is a huge bargain. If he doesn't improve, then not a great deal but not the worst.

[SkyHook]

Spoiler:

Not sure people really recognize how difficult it is too be a good defensive team, while also being young. Most young players are AWFUL, even guys that ultimately become great players.

Bari is an excellent defender, and a big contributor to the Rockets defense.

He also just turned 22 years old... Twenty one players drafted last week are OLDER than Jabari. His deal is runs through age 27, which means 3rd deal should run through 31. He will be hovering between 11-13% of the cap during this contract, which is excellent, as he should continually improve every year as he ascends toward his peak (typically at age 27).

My least favorite trope in basketball. Not all young players improve; some plateau, some regress. Some never had the upside to begin with.

This contract won't be seen as quite the disastrous overpay that Green's is, but I don't like it for the Rockets. I'm trying to figure out what Smith's signature skill is. He's a somewhat positive defender (though one of the worst steal% in the league), a somewhat positive rebounder (though middling for his position), below league average efg & ts% (league average from the arc and midrange, dismal at the rim). Where does he excel? Everything about him screams mediocrity to me.

The dream scenario is that he gets his shot back - to looking like it did in college.
College: 2021-22 34 5.4 12.6 .429 16.9 7.4 2.0 1.1
That .429 in college three point percentage was great and most shooters get better in NBA.
I think the problem is the old coach was bad and left him sitting out there in one position with no help while letting the shooting guards try to drive.
Ime came in and focused on defense. Jabari has gotten a little bigger and focused on defense. The problem is his shot - while still a decent percentage 35%, does not look the same and is not consistent. I think the added muscle affected him a little. Also, he is working on "his handles" this offseason - hopefully in two ways, catching and shooting faster along with a dribble to create space to rise up and shoot.

So, the dream is a 6'10 guy with over 7 foot reach playing good defense and shooting over 42% on threes. That is why he is getting paid. If he learns from Durant - and emulates him - and gets that shot going - then he is a huge bargain. If he doesn't improve, then not a great deal but not the worst.

Okay, his raise is based solely on hope. Hope that his handles improve, hope that his accuracy from range becomes elite. (College to NBA 3pt% don't necessarily translate; they certainly haven't with him and his ft% doesn't give me much confidence there.) Based on what he's shown in the league, I'd have been far more comfortable with him around the NTMLE.

[BK_2020]

Spoiler:

My least favorite trope in basketball. Not all young players improve; some plateau, some regress. Some never had the upside to begin with.

This contract won't be seen as quite the disastrous overpay that Green's is, but I don't like it for the Rockets. I'm trying to figure out what Smith's signature skill is. He's a somewhat positive defender (though one of the worst steal% in the league), a somewhat positive rebounder (though middling for his position), below league average efg & ts% (league average from the arc and midrange, dismal at the rim). Where does he excel? Everything about him screams mediocrity to me.

The dream scenario is that he gets his shot back - to looking like it did in college.
College: 2021-22 34 5.4 12.6 .429 16.9 7.4 2.0 1.1
That .429 in college three point percentage was great and most shooters get better in NBA.
I think the problem is the old coach was bad and left him sitting out there in one position with no help while letting the shooting guards try to drive.
Ime came in and focused on defense. Jabari has gotten a little bigger and focused on defense. The problem is his shot - while still a decent percentage 35%, does not look the same and is not consistent. I think the added muscle affected him a little. Also, he is working on "his handles" this offseason - hopefully in two ways, catching and shooting faster along with a dribble to create space to rise up and shoot.

So, the dream is a 6'10 guy with over 7 foot reach playing good defense and shooting over 42% on threes. That is why he is getting paid. If he learns from Durant - and emulates him - and gets that shot going - then he is a huge bargain. If he doesn't improve, then not a great deal but not the worst.

Okay, his raise is based solely on hope. Hope that his handles improve, hope that his accuracy from range becomes elite. (College to NBA 3pt% don't necessarily translate; they certainly haven't with him and his ft% doesn't give me much confidence there.) Based on what he's shown in the league, I'd have been far more comfortable with him around the NTMLE.

He's shot 80.5% from the line on 500 free throws. What don't you like about his ft%

[SkyHook]

Spoiler:

The dream scenario is that he gets his shot back - to looking like it did in college.
College: 2021-22 34 5.4 12.6 .429 16.9 7.4 2.0 1.1
That .429 in college three point percentage was great and most shooters get better in NBA.
I think the problem is the old coach was bad and left him sitting out there in one position with no help while letting the shooting guards try to drive.
Ime came in and focused on defense. Jabari has gotten a little bigger and focused on defense. The problem is his shot - while still a decent percentage 35%, does not look the same and is not consistent. I think the added muscle affected him a little. Also, he is working on "his handles" this offseason - hopefully in two ways, catching and shooting faster along with a dribble to create space to rise up and shoot.

So, the dream is a 6'10 guy with over 7 foot reach playing good defense and shooting over 42% on threes. That is why he is getting paid. If he learns from Durant - and emulates him - and gets that shot going - then he is a huge bargain. If he doesn't improve, then not a great deal but not the worst.

Okay, his raise is based solely on hope. Hope that his handles improve, hope that his accuracy from range becomes elite. (College to NBA 3pt% don't necessarily translate; they certainly haven't with him and his ft% doesn't give me much confidence there.) Based on what he's shown in the league, I'd have been far more comfortable with him around the NTMLE.

He's shot 80.5% from the line on 500 free throws. What don't you like about his ft%

Nothing wrong with the 70th percentile; it's fine, but nothing that leads me to believe that there's a pending massive leap in his 3pt% from the 50th percentile to the 93rd (42%).

[K_chile22]

Okay, his raise is based solely on hope. Hope that his handles improve, hope that his accuracy from range becomes elite. (College to NBA 3pt% don't necessarily translate; they certainly haven't with him and his ft% doesn't give me much confidence there.) Based on what he's shown in the league, I'd have been far more comfortable with him around the NTMLE.

He's shot 80.5% from the line on 500 free throws. What don't you like about his ft%

Nothing wrong with the 70th percentile; it's fine, but nothing that leads me to believe that there's a pending massive leap in his 3pt% from the 50th percentile to the 93rd (42%).

If he did that he'd be worth $30M+
If he shot that well and did everything else as he does why is Lauri worth a max and he's worth $24M

[SkyHook]

He's shot 80.5% from the line on 500 free throws. What don't you like about his ft%

Nothing wrong with the 70th percentile; it's fine, but nothing that leads me to believe that there's a pending massive leap in his 3pt% from the 50th percentile to the 93rd (42%).

If he did that he'd be worth $30M+

Agreed, but I'm not the one who floated the 42% mark.

[K_chile22]

Nothing wrong with the 70th percentile; it's fine, but nothing that leads me to believe that there's a pending massive leap in his 3pt% from the 50th percentile to the 93rd (42%).

If he did that he'd be worth $30M+

Agreed, but I'm not the one who floated the 42% mark.

You said he needs to be an elite shooter for this to be worth it but that's just not true. This is fifth starter money in today's NBA. If he was an elite shooter he'd get way more

[SkyHook]

If he did that he'd be worth $30M+

Agreed, but I'm not the one who floated the 42% mark.

You said he needs to be an elite shooter for this to be worth it but that's just not true. This is fifth starter money in today's NBA. If he was an elite shooter he'd get way more

Reread what I wrote above. What is his signature skill? What has he shown right now that's elite? It might be there—I may have missed it—but I don't see anything that says that he's worth this contract now.

That’s all I'm saying. If others are fine with it based on what they hope or dream to see in the future, okay.

[K_chile22]

Agreed, but I'm not the one who floated the 42% mark.

You said he needs to be an elite shooter for this to be worth it but that's just not true. This is fifth starter money in today's NBA. If he was an elite shooter he'd get way more

Reread what I wrote above. What is his signature skill? What has he shown right now that's elite? It might be there—I may have missed it—but I don't see anything that says that he's worth this contract now.

That’s all I'm saying. If others are fine with it based on what they hope or dream to see in the future, okay.

It's 12% of the salary cap is what you're missing

[SkyHook]

You said he needs to be an elite shooter for this to be worth it but that's just not true. This is fifth starter money in today's NBA. If he was an elite shooter he'd get way more

Reread what I wrote above. What is his signature skill? What has he shown right now that's elite? It might be there—I may have missed it—but I don't see anything that says that he's worth this contract now.

That’s all I'm saying. If others are fine with it based on what they hope or dream to see in the future, okay.

It's 12% of the salary cap is what you're missing

More like starting at 13.6% or 150% of the NTMLE. I think that's too much for a player of his caliber. You apparently don't... okay.

[Xman]

Did shoot 45.4 percent on threes in the playoffs (only seven games though).
I will also add that there are games where his shot is clearly off (flat trajectory compared to normal). I think they pull him when they notice but he had to play and shoot badly a few games when Eason was hurt. Not sure what is happening in those games or if the NBA grind wears him down, but eliminating that issue probably puts him in the forty range.