WHY DIDN'T WE DRAFT JABARI SMITH?

[orthoman]

I was hoping we had drafted Jabari Smith.

He's a deadly shooter, can guard all positions, and has a great mature mindset.

This team has needed a deep shooting threat for years. Smith is one.

Banchero will be a good player, but to me, our pick was a once-in-a decade chance to get a deep threat..Kevin Durant-type player.

Thoughts?

[fendilim]

Honestly, I think Banchero is the closest given he is 6’10” and has the scoring and playmaking ability.

[Magiclee]

Same reason OKC didn't take him. Aside from a nice jump shot he doesn't know how to play basketball.

[LDNMagic90]

I get you like Jabari and I do too, I’ve had him and Banchero close for a while. However we don’t know what either play will become, we haven’t even started Summer league yet.

I’d imagine all 3 to have some sort of impact because of their work ethic etc, but Paolo is just different compared to the other 2. It’s not like Paolo can’t shoot either, he’ll improve he’s only 19 at the end of the day and I’d imagine he hasn’t even come close to what he can become.

Let’s just support our kid now he’s more than likely going to be with us for majority of the following decade so…

[Horcy]

Because we drafted Banchero

[BaunceyChillups]

Because he can't dribble.

[tiderulz]

I was hoping we had drafted Jabari Smith.

He's a deadly shooter, can guard all positions, and has a great mature mindset.

This team has needed a deep shooting threat for years. Smith is one.

Banchero will be a good player, but to me, our pick was a once-in-a decade chance to get a deep threat..Kevin Durant-type player.

Thoughts?

my personal views. Jabari a very good 3&D player. but wasnt dynamic enough on offense. Had to have someone else create a lot of his offense. 3 pt shooters can be found. does not look like he could be a #1 option on a good team. Banchero has the skill set to be a #1 option. as with many players, development plays a very large part in it. as some have mentioned, i think they liked Banchero, and took a long look at Jabari to see if he was a better real deal and decided he had a lower ceiling than Paolo

[Knightro]

Based on all the remarks that Weltman has made since the draft, it seems like the Magic really put a premium on Banchero's ability to create shots for himself and others off the dribble.

Jabari and Paolo are really like polar opposites when it comes to current skill set.

[Def Swami]

Those Kevin Durant comps did him a disservice. That's not who he is at all. He's a great shooter. He is not a great scorer. There's a big difference. Whether you believe he could develop into one is a whole different story.

[VFX]

Simple.

Jabari is the guy you draft at #3 when you already have a go-to player on the roster.

He's not the guy you select at #1 with a clear go-to guy on the board but not one on your roster.

[Audi]

Jabari would have slotted right in and improved the current team.

Paolo will completely change it into something better.

[fateis007]

What is with all these comparisons too KD and Jabari? Height?

Like it's not even close. KD was a phenom and a 3 level scorer at Texas. He was handling like a guard at 6'9-6'10.

JB is a 2-3 dribble guy at most to get his looks.

[Knightro]

Simple.

Jabari is the guy you draft at #3 when you already have a go-to player on the roster.

He's not the guy you select at #1 with a clear go-to guy on the board but not one on your roster.

Jabari has the higher floor. The skills he looks like he's going to bring to the table are the kind you can drop into any NBA playoff series right now. Feels like the worst case scenario for Smith is that he's a high quality 3&D power forward. But how much more is in there beyond that?

Paolo has the higher ceiling, but he could also become a guy who isn't nearly as valuable as his stats would indicate.

If everything goes right for Paolo, he's a top 20 NBA player and the kind of star we've been begging for.

But there's also many outcomes where Paolo's shooting doesn't fully flesh out and he never reaches a break even point as a defender and he ultimately settles in to being a high usage, low-ish efficiency player. The best player on a team that wins 35-45 games a year.

I totally understand them taking a swing on upside. I'd have gone with Jabari personally (and Chet over both of them), but I really do get the appeal of Banchero.

[dc]

As a non-Magic fan, my take:

They probably viewed Jabari as the higher "floor" player, with his shooting ability and defense. It's almost sure to translate to the NBA.

They probably saw Paolo as a more multi-dimensional guy (on offense) who is able to "do more" and create more for himself and others. Paolo probably not the pure shooter or as good defensively (I honestly haven't watched enough of him), but might be able to create scoring opportunities better. Put the ball on the floor and pass better. The Magic might view Paolo as kind of a smaller, more athletic Jokic. Not the same looking player, but similar effects.

If you're drafting Jabari, you're just saying "Here's the ball, score for us". It's a much more simple thing with him. I'm also assuming he defends better.

If Paolo defends nearly as good or better than Jabari, then I think it's very likely the better overall pick.

IMO, all 3 teams in the Top 3 were big winners with their picks. (That and the Pistons getting Ivey to pair with Cade). I think the Top 3 guys all have too much talent not to succeed and all of them seem pretty driven. None of them look like slackers.

[thelead]

I honestly view Jabari as the better player TODAY. From the videos I've seen, Jabari seemed to win his HS and AAU matchups (including winning the battle against Paolo). I view Paolo as having a higher ceiling because of his handle and his ability to pass. I was adamant about wanting Jabari over Paolo and part of that was knowing we would have a deadly shooter and punting/gambling for finding a star in the 2023 draft.

[The-Stallion70]

Sorry, you thought Jabari Smith was going to be the next KD?

[RookieStar]

IT's really simple when you think of it.

Jabari fits perfectly with us. Paolo, on paper, fits the worst.

Then again, just remember we are a 22 win team and we can't worry about fit. We need the best alpha player because none of our young guys has shown he is worthy of it yet. You draft the best player and fit guys around him, you don't draft a player that fits best for the situation we are in.

Personally, I thought that player was Chet but then again, I don't have the access to the same information as our FO does.

[VFX]

Simple.

Jabari is the guy you draft at #3 when you already have a go-to player on the roster.

He's not the guy you select at #1 with a clear go-to guy on the board but not one on your roster.

Jabari has the higher floor. The skills he looks like he's going to bring to the table are the kind you can drop into any NBA playoff series right now. Feels like the worst case scenario for Smith is that he's a high quality 3&D power forward. But how much more is in there beyond that?

Paolo has the higher ceiling, but he could also become a guy who isn't nearly as valuable as his stats would indicate.

If everything goes right for Paolo, he's a top 20 NBA player and the kind of star we've been begging for.

But there's also many outcomes where Paolo's shooting doesn't fully flesh out and he never reaches a break even point as a defender and he ultimately settles in to being a high usage, low-ish efficiency player. The best player on a team that wins 35-45 games a year.

I totally understand them taking a swing on upside. I'd have gone with Jabari personally (and Chet over both of them), but I really do get the appeal of Banchero.

I said before the draft that I was OK with Jabari as the selection, but I would have felt underwhelmed due to his limited skill set. Mostly due to the fact that I don’t necessarily view Franz as an alpha go-to scorer, but more of an amazing secondary option.

I wasn’t initially on board with Paolo either, but I think in retrospect he was the correct choice given the rosters current situation. I actually think all 3 guys went to the best possible situations based on their floors/upside.

Jabari isn’t a primary option on offense. Chet could have easily been the pick IF Orlando had an absolute game changer on offense like SGA or Giddey. However, that isn’t the case for the Magic.

The Magic kind of needed that in between guy that is ready now and also can grow into a more defined role. Paolo could really develop either way. He could become a more elite playmaker or a top tier scorer. Who knows, maybe both. Most of my issue with him was his effort on the defensive side and his low rebound numbers given his size. I just don’t know how much of that was due to Dukes system or the fact he was playing next to a monster in Mark Williams.

I just believe with the #1 overall pick, and the second worst offense in the nba, you are looking at developing an identity still and not settling on “nice pieces” with a complimentary skill set. Paolo achieves that in the current situation.

[basketballRob]

Sorry, you thought Jabari Smith was going to be the next KD?

People only compared his outside shooting to KD.

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[axl_c_cool]

This, we've had support players for a decade, Smith Jr looks like he'll be an ultra high level #2, Banchero could be a #1 option and franchise player, that's what we need

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