[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Now that we are a couple months into the NCAA season, I wonder what people think about Smart’s draft prospects.  Smart is a very polarizing prospect and I have extremely conflicted feelings on him.

Smart has some obvious plusses.  Smart is know for his leadership and is a very mature player, both physically and mentality-wise.  Smart plays very aggressively and seems to seek to embarass his opponent on the court.  He is very confident and competitive.  Smart plays extremely physically, but will flop the moment the opposing player strikes back, just like Reggie Evans and Anderson Varejao.  He has a great awareness of defensive rotations and is an intelligent offensive player who anticipates his teammates movements.  He is capable of making outstanding passes in traffic.  

On the other hand, Smart shows very poor shot selection, taking over 5 threes a game, many of them contested and off-the-dribble, and is shooting 31.5% from downtown this season.  While Smart obviously has some serious shot making ability, his inconsistent mechanics and penchant for high degree of difficulty shots prevents him from being an efficient shot maker.  While he has improved from last season, when he shot 29% on 4 attempts per game, the improvement is very marginal.  In fact, Smart’s FT% is down significantly, going from 78% last years to 68% this season.  

And, while Smart has a great basketball mind, he still is a fairly mistake prone player. Not only is his shot selection poor, but he averages 2.9 TOs per game (down from 3.4 per game last year) and gets burned more on defense than his reputation as a stopper would suggest.  His efficiency is much better this year, which seems to be mostly as a result of his improved finishing at the rim.  Smart does seem to have improved his touch around the rim this season.

I wonder which position everyone thinks Smart is best suited for.  His best defensive position is probably SG, but his lack of shooting and reliance on overpowering his defender probably makes his best offensive position PG, although his poor shot selection calls that into question.  I love Smart’s mentality on the court, but I fear his positive reputation has shielded him from criticism about his game.  

[LindseyParticipant]

 I’m not taking him to be a star, but his talents will be maximized with other good players who maybe arent the best leaders. The best team place for him i think is Sacramento, where he wouldnt have the shot creating burden he does now with OK ST, but that team needs leadership and solid consistent play. His game is very compatible with both Mcllemore(sp), and lil thomas. Cousins gives a go-to scorer.

Doesnt neccesarily need sactown to be maximized, but a similar role and players around him. Raptors maybe…

[LindseyParticipant]

 I’m not taking him to be a star, but his talents will be maximized with other good players who maybe arent the best leaders. The best team place for him i think is Sacramento, where he wouldnt have the shot creating burden he does now with OK ST, but that team needs leadership and solid consistent play. His game is very compatible with both Mcllemore(sp), and lil thomas. Cousins gives a go-to scorer.

Doesnt neccesarily need sactown to be maximized, but a similar role and players around him. Raptors maybe…

[bloodshyParticipant]

Smart is phenominal in several areas of the game and below average in several others. He has the athleticism and body to be a physically elite NBA pg and he’s a high level leader on the court. However, his shooting mechanics are just OK and his decision making (shooting, passing, etc.) leave much to be desired. Similarly, on D, he is absolutely smothering much of the time, but then mindlessly fails to maintain positioning and gets burned from time to time. Thus, he displays dominance and occassional inefficiency at the same time.

If you draft him you know you’re getting a guy with all of the tools to be a great pg in the physically dominant mold of today’s pgs. However, you’re also risking taking a guy who will always be inefficient. I think the success rates of physically dominant pgs that are good in college, but somewhat inefficient, has been pretty good as of late. Smart will probably take 3-4 years to make a major impact in the NBA, but I think he’ll develop into a dominant player. I think he’ll chisel away at technique, which will improve his efficiency. When that happens, look out.

I’d pick Smart in the 3-5 range in this draft. 

 

  

 

  

[bloodshyParticipant]

Smart is phenominal in several areas of the game and below average in several others. He has the athleticism and body to be a physically elite NBA pg and he’s a high level leader on the court. However, his shooting mechanics are just OK and his decision making (shooting, passing, etc.) leave much to be desired. Similarly, on D, he is absolutely smothering much of the time, but then mindlessly fails to maintain positioning and gets burned from time to time. Thus, he displays dominance and occassional inefficiency at the same time.

If you draft him you know you’re getting a guy with all of the tools to be a great pg in the physically dominant mold of today’s pgs. However, you’re also risking taking a guy who will always be inefficient. I think the success rates of physically dominant pgs that are good in college, but somewhat inefficient, has been pretty good as of late. Smart will probably take 3-4 years to make a major impact in the NBA, but I think he’ll develop into a dominant player. I think he’ll chisel away at technique, which will improve his efficiency. When that happens, look out.

I’d pick Smart in the 3-5 range in this draft. 

 

  

 

  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

He has ideal point guard size.  He has better size for a point guard than Wiggins has a small forward or even Julius Randle as a power forward.

I think he needs shooters on the wing with some really good bigs inside.  But, so does everyone.

You can make an argument for him at any pick in the top 6 and I think he should go as high as 3, maybe. 

I would really like this guy on the Bucks if they have the 3rd or 4th pick (assuming Embiid is off the board and Wiggins/Parker). 

Smart with Giannis on the wing along with Henson, Illysova, and Larry Sanders would be a promising young team.  Then you still have some nice guards with OJ Mayo, Brandon Knight, Nate Wolters, and Gary Neal.  It looks like they have the front line, the future STAR in Greek Freak, and also some shooters.  What they REALLY need is a legit, top tier point guard.  Smart makes the most sense for the Bucks.

If Orlando misses out on Parker, Wiggins, and Embiid, Marcus Smart would be a very good consolation prize.  He and Oladipo aren’t the best shooters, but they are athletic, and tough on defense.  That would be a great backcourt since both guys can handle the ball as well as get to the rim. 

He has a pretty high upside as an big point guard with future all-star potential.  His downside (floor) is kind of high since he is a bigger point guard who can defend and get to the basket.  At worst, he looks like an average point guard (on offense) with better than average size, defense, and power.  He may not shoot the lights out but he can get to the line.  A good thing about Smart is that he can also defend some 2’s like D Wade, Oladipo, or Waiters.  Not the biggest shooting guards, but 2 guards with average (below average?) size.  OR, he’s an ideal third guard on a championship contender.

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

He has ideal point guard size.  He has better size for a point guard than Wiggins has a small forward or even Julius Randle as a power forward.

I think he needs shooters on the wing with some really good bigs inside.  But, so does everyone.

You can make an argument for him at any pick in the top 6 and I think he should go as high as 3, maybe. 

I would really like this guy on the Bucks if they have the 3rd or 4th pick (assuming Embiid is off the board and Wiggins/Parker). 

Smart with Giannis on the wing along with Henson, Illysova, and Larry Sanders would be a promising young team.  Then you still have some nice guards with OJ Mayo, Brandon Knight, Nate Wolters, and Gary Neal.  It looks like they have the front line, the future STAR in Greek Freak, and also some shooters.  What they REALLY need is a legit, top tier point guard.  Smart makes the most sense for the Bucks.

If Orlando misses out on Parker, Wiggins, and Embiid, Marcus Smart would be a very good consolation prize.  He and Oladipo aren’t the best shooters, but they are athletic, and tough on defense.  That would be a great backcourt since both guys can handle the ball as well as get to the rim. 

He has a pretty high upside as an big point guard with future all-star potential.  His downside (floor) is kind of high since he is a bigger point guard who can defend and get to the basket.  At worst, he looks like an average point guard (on offense) with better than average size, defense, and power.  He may not shoot the lights out but he can get to the line.  A good thing about Smart is that he can also defend some 2’s like D Wade, Oladipo, or Waiters.  Not the biggest shooting guards, but 2 guards with average (below average?) size.  OR, he’s an ideal third guard on a championship contender.

 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Yeah, the Bucks need backcourt help like nobody’s business.  OJ Mayo has been absolutely atrocious this season and the team is way better with him on the bench.  Brandon Knight makes Brandon Jennings look like a model of efficiency and good shot selection and he just is a terrible passer for a guard.  Giannis is getting minutes at 2-guard because Middleton, their only other starting caliber perimeter player, has zero positional versatility, but Giannis is way better defending forwards than guards.  

I don’t think it is too likely Smart goes to the Bucks, though.  They will likely have the worst record in the league at the end of the year, meaning that they will have a top 4 pick.  Smart should not go top 3, regardless of who is drafting, because Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid are all in a tier above him as prospects.  And I am inclined to favor Exum over Smart, although I haven’t seen enough of Exum to be sure.  

What the Bucks should do is leverage Henson into a young impact backcourt player.  Maybe use him to get Reggie Jackson in a sign-and-trade in the offseason.  Henson puts up great stats, both on offense and defense.  His metric stats on defense are Roy Hibbert-esque.  Yet, Henson still is not as good as Sanders and the Bucks are even worse on offense when he is on the court.  He probably has a lot of trade value, given that he is on a rookie contract, but he just doesn’t complement Sanders well and Sanders has already gotten paid, limiting his trade value.  

 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Yeah, the Bucks need backcourt help like nobody’s business.  OJ Mayo has been absolutely atrocious this season and the team is way better with him on the bench.  Brandon Knight makes Brandon Jennings look like a model of efficiency and good shot selection and he just is a terrible passer for a guard.  Giannis is getting minutes at 2-guard because Middleton, their only other starting caliber perimeter player, has zero positional versatility, but Giannis is way better defending forwards than guards.  

I don’t think it is too likely Smart goes to the Bucks, though.  They will likely have the worst record in the league at the end of the year, meaning that they will have a top 4 pick.  Smart should not go top 3, regardless of who is drafting, because Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid are all in a tier above him as prospects.  And I am inclined to favor Exum over Smart, although I haven’t seen enough of Exum to be sure.  

What the Bucks should do is leverage Henson into a young impact backcourt player.  Maybe use him to get Reggie Jackson in a sign-and-trade in the offseason.  Henson puts up great stats, both on offense and defense.  His metric stats on defense are Roy Hibbert-esque.  Yet, Henson still is not as good as Sanders and the Bucks are even worse on offense when he is on the court.  He probably has a lot of trade value, given that he is on a rookie contract, but he just doesn’t complement Sanders well and Sanders has already gotten paid, limiting his trade value.  

 

[jaycee24Participant]

I think it’s hard to critique the younger guys in Milwaukee right now as they don’t have much to work with or quality veteran play to lean on. I actually would like Smart paired in the backcourt with Knight and/or Mayo as that would supply a lot of ball handling capability and potential for a faster more versatile offense. I know a lot of people are cold on Knight but I still think he’ll keep plugging away and continue to improve and I think Middleton would actually excel in a lesser role. As far as this year I think he’s been a nice surprise and that’s probably an understatement.

[jaycee24Participant]

I think it’s hard to critique the younger guys in Milwaukee right now as they don’t have much to work with or quality veteran play to lean on. I actually would like Smart paired in the backcourt with Knight and/or Mayo as that would supply a lot of ball handling capability and potential for a faster more versatile offense. I know a lot of people are cold on Knight but I still think he’ll keep plugging away and continue to improve and I think Middleton would actually excel in a lesser role. As far as this year I think he’s been a nice surprise and that’s probably an understatement.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 I definitely agree with you on Middleton.  I think he looks like a nice 3-and-D guy.  His offensive game is pretty limited, but his ability to knock down shots in the flow of the offense is valuable for the Bucks.  His biggest issue is the fact that he can’t defend SGs.  Positional versatility is important for a guy who is best suited to play a limited offensive role on a good team.

I am losing any faith I had in Brandon Knight ever becoming more than a poor man’s Lou Williams.  His FG% has gotten worse every year of his career, as has his 3FG%, and he is as TO prone as ever, committing more TO per game now than he did as a rookie despite a decrease in minutes.  Statistically, he grades out as one of the worst point guards in the game at distributing the ball and at protecting it, which is problematic.  

Knight still has very poor court vision.  He doesn’t make simple drive-and-kick passes, getting tunnel vision when driving the lane, and is not good at the pocket pass.  His lack of ball handling ability clearly hurts his distributing ability, as he shows little ability to change speeds or create passing lanes on his own and doesn’t have great timing running the break.  Knight is still basically the same player he was at Kentucky.

Knight really just should be used as a spot-up shooter, but the Bucks just lack people who can create offense.  Giannis can fill that role to a certain extent, but he is not ready to be a high volume half court player yet.  Mayo, Neal, and Butler are black holes, Middleton is an off the ball guy, and Ridnour and Wolters are struggling to shoot the ball effectively.  The Bucks only serious post threat, John Henson, doesn’t comman double teams, so playing inside out isn’t an option.  As a result, Knight is miscast as a lead guard, which is a role he is unqualified to fill.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 I definitely agree with you on Middleton.  I think he looks like a nice 3-and-D guy.  His offensive game is pretty limited, but his ability to knock down shots in the flow of the offense is valuable for the Bucks.  His biggest issue is the fact that he can’t defend SGs.  Positional versatility is important for a guy who is best suited to play a limited offensive role on a good team.

I am losing any faith I had in Brandon Knight ever becoming more than a poor man’s Lou Williams.  His FG% has gotten worse every year of his career, as has his 3FG%, and he is as TO prone as ever, committing more TO per game now than he did as a rookie despite a decrease in minutes.  Statistically, he grades out as one of the worst point guards in the game at distributing the ball and at protecting it, which is problematic.  

Knight still has very poor court vision.  He doesn’t make simple drive-and-kick passes, getting tunnel vision when driving the lane, and is not good at the pocket pass.  His lack of ball handling ability clearly hurts his distributing ability, as he shows little ability to change speeds or create passing lanes on his own and doesn’t have great timing running the break.  Knight is still basically the same player he was at Kentucky.

Knight really just should be used as a spot-up shooter, but the Bucks just lack people who can create offense.  Giannis can fill that role to a certain extent, but he is not ready to be a high volume half court player yet.  Mayo, Neal, and Butler are black holes, Middleton is an off the ball guy, and Ridnour and Wolters are struggling to shoot the ball effectively.  The Bucks only serious post threat, John Henson, doesn’t comman double teams, so playing inside out isn’t an option.  As a result, Knight is miscast as a lead guard, which is a role he is unqualified to fill.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 I wouldn’t worry about his shooting right now. To me, he is more of an Eric Bledsoe/Russel Westbrook type prospect. He will learn to shoot….if he doesn’t, he will still make up for it with his defense and passing. I think he is a top 5 prospect hands down. 

[Jester87Participant]

I don’t really see Bledsoe/Westbrook athleticism. He’s that strong but not as explosive, not even close. His first step and leaping ability are pretty average. In my opinion he really needs the shot immediately, he’s phisically built more like Billups than Bledsoe, so it’s important for him to keep defenders honest and having the ability to pull up in pick and roll situations. I fear excessive expectations could hurt him some, he’s not a potential superstar imho, and I have some concerns about his game (his decision making and shot selection is still questionable, his ball handling is fine but not always under control, he plays below the rim). I think his defense would help his cause a lot, but I don’t see him as one of the elite PGs of the future.

[Jester87Participant]

I don’t really see Bledsoe/Westbrook athleticism. He’s that strong but not as explosive, not even close. His first step and leaping ability are pretty average. In my opinion he really needs the shot immediately, he’s phisically built more like Billups than Bledsoe, so it’s important for him to keep defenders honest and having the ability to pull up in pick and roll situations. I fear excessive expectations could hurt him some, he’s not a potential superstar imho, and I have some concerns about his game (his decision making and shot selection is still questionable, his ball handling is fine but not always under control, he plays below the rim). I think his defense would help his cause a lot, but I don’t see him as one of the elite PGs of the future.

[Bmore_DCParticipant]

 I wouldn’t worry about his shooting right now. To me, he is more of an Eric Bledsoe/Russel Westbrook type prospect. He will learn to shoot….if he doesn’t, he will still make up for it with his defense and passing. I think he is a top 5 prospect hands down. 

[PlatypusParticipant]

Would love for the Bulls to trade up and get him. a starting back court of Smart and Rose with Butler as the wing defender. Wont happen, but would be really cool to see

[jperk12Participant]

 I hate that move. So he will be playing the 2 he’s undersized and doesn’t have the speedathleticism to guard the 2 and I agree with the op that he is not as good of a defender as many gives him credit for. On top of that he is an average shooter who wants the ball in his hands. I don’t see him meshing with the Bulls. He’s a hard worker and a great leader but the Bulls need a wing that can score off the ball.

[jperk12Participant]

 I hate that move. So he will be playing the 2 he’s undersized and doesn’t have the speedathleticism to guard the 2 and I agree with the op that he is not as good of a defender as many gives him credit for. On top of that he is an average shooter who wants the ball in his hands. I don’t see him meshing with the Bulls. He’s a hard worker and a great leader but the Bulls need a wing that can score off the ball.

[PlatypusParticipant]

Would love for the Bulls to trade up and get him. a starting back court of Smart and Rose with Butler as the wing defender. Wont happen, but would be really cool to see

[Ghost01Participant]

 Judging by how the Bucks are playing, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Marcus Smart isn’t exactly what they are looking for in this draft. They are top 2 pick or bust. 

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 If the Bucks end up with the worst record in the league, they are more likely to end up with the 4th pick than any other individual pick.  The worst record in the league only gives a team a 50% chance at a top-2 selection.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 If the Bucks end up with the worst record in the league, they are more likely to end up with the 4th pick than any other individual pick.  The worst record in the league only gives a team a 50% chance at a top-2 selection.

[Ghost01Participant]

 Judging by how the Bucks are playing, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Marcus Smart isn’t exactly what they are looking for in this draft. They are top 2 pick or bust. 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 I have a feeling like he’ll be the D. Wade of the draft, he at worse will be the Chauncey Billups of a very strong class…

As a 76ers fan I’m hoping we win the Lottery and the Pelicans pick falls in the 7-12 range, Parker and Smart are two of my favorite prospects and If Sam Hinkie’s as smart as I think he is I’d make drafting Parker top 3 my #1 priority, but securing Marcus Smart with the Pelicans pick would be my 2nd course of action…I’d imagine a deal that sends the Pelican’s lottery pick and a future 1st rounder would help the 76ers move up enough to grab Smart…

I want the Sixers to absolutely hit a grand slam this off-season, the more loses we amass during this season only help secure our place in the Top 3, where I think we can safely draft Parker with the 3rd pick (Wiggins goes 1st, Embiid 2nd ala LeBron and Darko) and move up to land Smart

Who wouldn’t want to rebuild a team with Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, Jabarri Parker and Marcus Smart? 

 

 

 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

 I have a feeling like he’ll be the D. Wade of the draft, he at worse will be the Chauncey Billups of a very strong class…

As a 76ers fan I’m hoping we win the Lottery and the Pelicans pick falls in the 7-12 range, Parker and Smart are two of my favorite prospects and If Sam Hinkie’s as smart as I think he is I’d make drafting Parker top 3 my #1 priority, but securing Marcus Smart with the Pelicans pick would be my 2nd course of action…I’d imagine a deal that sends the Pelican’s lottery pick and a future 1st rounder would help the 76ers move up enough to grab Smart…

I want the Sixers to absolutely hit a grand slam this off-season, the more loses we amass during this season only help secure our place in the Top 3, where I think we can safely draft Parker with the 3rd pick (Wiggins goes 1st, Embiid 2nd ala LeBron and Darko) and move up to land Smart

Who wouldn’t want to rebuild a team with Michael Carter-Williams, Nerlens Noel, Jabarri Parker and Marcus Smart? 

 

 

 

[JoeWolf1]

 I think Smart would be best suited in a place that can run him with another big combo guard. I was high on him going to Pheonix before they got Bledsoe to play along with Dragic. I think he’d excell the way Bledsoe is doing is along side Dragic.

I think of Philly as another place that would be good for him. He could play with MCW with Wroten off the bench, giving them a very fluid, big, lineup of 3 guards, with MCW being the most point guard like, but all 3 being able to run some 1.

Smart is a big, strong, athletic, guy with a lot of guts and heart, and is a tenacious defender and rim attacker. I don’t think his long range game is as good as it was advertised after he killed Memphis for 39 points, but it’s better, and it will be better that it is now, when he suits up in the league. He’s not a pure point in my mind at the next level, but he’s a beast and has the physical tools to guard NBA SG’s. I also think his shot selection will get a little better when he’s not expected to be a #1 option. I think he’s probably a 2 or 3 option in the NBA, but I feel his intangables and grit still make him a top 5 or 6 pick.

 

[JoeWolf1]

 I think Smart would be best suited in a place that can run him with another big combo guard. I was high on him going to Pheonix before they got Bledsoe to play along with Dragic. I think he’d excell the way Bledsoe is doing is along side Dragic.

I think of Philly as another place that would be good for him. He could play with MCW with Wroten off the bench, giving them a very fluid, big, lineup of 3 guards, with MCW being the most point guard like, but all 3 being able to run some 1.

Smart is a big, strong, athletic, guy with a lot of guts and heart, and is a tenacious defender and rim attacker. I don’t think his long range game is as good as it was advertised after he killed Memphis for 39 points, but it’s better, and it will be better that it is now, when he suits up in the league. He’s not a pure point in my mind at the next level, but he’s a beast and has the physical tools to guard NBA SG’s. I also think his shot selection will get a little better when he’s not expected to be a #1 option. I think he’s probably a 2 or 3 option in the NBA, but I feel his intangables and grit still make him a top 5 or 6 pick.

 

[DolanCareParticipant]

 His main reason for staying another year was to improve his jump shot. And that he has done. He’ll never be a sharp shooter, but his shot has gradually improved and it will continue to improve the more he practices on it. I’m not sure what OK ST’s coaching staff is like, but I’m confident they know how to finetune jumper mechanics. 

I’m going to be watching Smart with a clean slate going forward — forgetting about the beginning of this year. If he looks solid, then he’s a 3rd-4th pick in this draft.  

[DolanCareParticipant]

 His main reason for staying another year was to improve his jump shot. And that he has done. He’ll never be a sharp shooter, but his shot has gradually improved and it will continue to improve the more he practices on it. I’m not sure what OK ST’s coaching staff is like, but I’m confident they know how to finetune jumper mechanics. 

I’m going to be watching Smart with a clean slate going forward — forgetting about the beginning of this year. If he looks solid, then he’s a 3rd-4th pick in this draft.  

[Author]

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