Smith will bring shooting, defense

There wasn’t a more obvious choice. When Paolo Banchero — the prospect whom many Houston fans had settled on after weeks of reports that practically wrote his third overall selection in stone — was swiftly swooped off the board by the Orlando Magic on Thursday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder never wavered from their projected selection, Chet Holmgren. That left just one of the prophesied three: Jabari Smith Jr.

Now that he’s a Houston Rocket, here’s a look at some of Smith Jr.’s strengths and weaknesses.

Strength: Shooting

For weeks, Smith was the consensus choice for No. 1 overall pick Thursday night — until the minutes leading up to the NBA draft. Much of that was due to the fact he was viewed as the best shooter in the entire draft.

The 6-foot-10 forward simply pulled up over defenders all season, averaging 16.9 points on a scorching 42 percent from deep. His fluid mechanics showed through in a number of different ways, with Smith displaying his touch from everywhere.

He showed confidence in putting the ball on the floor, stepping into 3-pointers in transition, and giving one to two dribbles en route to the rim on those who closed out on the sharpshooter. Smith displayed a similarly confident level of touch from the midpost, reaching over wings and shooting turnaround jumpers with solid success.

Strength: Defensive versatility

The former Auburn forward is viewed as possibly the best two-way talent in the draft. It’s hard to envision a player with a higher floor than someone who shoots over 40 percent from 3 and can move the way Smith does on defense. He stands to guard multiple positions in the NBA and was vaunted for his perimeter defense this past season.

Smith isn’t the rim protector fellow top-three pick Holmgren is, but the freshman’s strength allowed him to body up forwards. His athleticism and agility allowed him to fly around and hold his own against perimeter players. At 6-10, Smith hedging and switching onto the perimeter should be a scary sight when looks to defend ball screens in the near future. His fluidity when moving on the floor at his size allows an uncommon level of versatility on both ends.

Weakness: Decision-making/playmaking

In Smith’s Kevin Durant comparison lies a flaw: Their handles aren’t comparable. Durant has demonstrated the ability to break down defenders consistently for years while also being able to give that one signature move to get to his sweet spot. Smith hasn’t outright displayed the same handle or the playmaking abilities that come with it.

Smith not only displayed a notable amount of inaccuracy as a passer, but he displayed a lack of decision-making and ability to consistently set teammates up when the opportunity presented itself. He did a fine job of going around single defenders with a couple of dribbles when his shooting gravity drew closeouts. But when multiple NBA defenders are sent at him, it might present a challenge in the early stages of Smith’s career.

But alas, Smith’s pitch as a player isn’t as a playmaker; he’s not Paolo Banchero in that regard. If he develops into even an average passer, whether that’s in the short roll or in live dribble situations, Smith stands to be tougher to guard than many anticipated.