NBA Draft Profile: Jabari Smith

NCAA Tournament Second Round Greenville - Miami vs Auburn

By Nick Brinkerhoff

 

Welcome to NBA Draft week. I hope you got plenty of rest over the weekend, because the 2022-23 NBA season starts Thursday. Crazy right? Never a dull moment in what may just be the greatest reality television show on earth. 

 

It is widely expected and generally accepted that Auburn’s Jabari Smith will be the number one overall selection after the Orlando Magic make us wait out the entire duration of the time on the clock. A tradition like no other. So who is Jabari Smith and more importantly, is he the right selection at number one? Let’s find out. 

 

Background: Smith, a five star recruit out of Georgia, received nine offers, even from the blue blooded program North Carolina, before eventually opting for Auburn and the SEC. The 19-year-old is the son of former NBA player, Jabari Smith Sr. Standing at 6’10” and weighing in at 210 pounds, the younger Smith became the highest recruit ever for Auburn basketball.

Smith played only one season with the Tigers before declaring for the draft, averaging 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds on 42% shooting from three point range. 

 

Strengths: Shot-making. Shot-making. Shot-making. If Smith is to stick in the NBA, which he almost certainly will, it will be because of his incredible size and ability to stretch the floor. Teams like the Magic, who shot 33.1% from downtown as a team last season, good for third worst in the league, desperately need some outside shooting next season. That combination of being lethal beyond the arc and his ability to switch and defend other positions easily translates to the modern game. He is definitely a player that can help unlock a Magic team that was sorely missing someone like Smith on offense. 

 

Weaknesses: There is so much upside to Smith’s game and any team that drafts him will sleep easy at night knowing just that. However, there is some concern about the glaring hole in his game, ability to create off the dribble. Can he do it? We don’t know, it’s not something we’ve seen a lot of to this point. If anything, that can become a problem at the next level, especially once quicker defenses can exploit that weakness. Other players in contention for the top selection, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren do not have that specific concern, which may sway a team like the Magic in their direction instead. Smith’s biggest question is whether he can be a guy late in big games with the ball in his hands and if the answer is no, is that worthy of the top pick. Improving that ability can make Smith even more lethal in the NBA.

Prediction: Will Smith be the first Auburn player selected first overall in school history? Smith reminds me of someone who can fit into a variety of molds from Jaren Jackson Jr, Brandon Ingram, to even a former Magic player, Rashard Lewis. Whether he should be the first pick is up for debate. But no matter what, Smith is worthy of that honor and could be a seamless fit with the Magic. You can get in on the action by betting Smith to hear name called first at -105 on BetMGM.

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