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A year after taking Jalen Green with the 2nd overall pick, the Houston Rockets landed the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. In this year's class, three prospects are the consensus to go in the top three. These are Auburn Tigers star Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga Bulldogs stud Chet Holmgren, and Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero. Most mock drafts project Smith and Holmgren to go one and two, leaving Houston with Banchero as the de facto choice.
But anything can happen between today and June 23, the day of the draft. If the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder somehow pick Holmgren and Banchero, that leaves the Rockets with the grand opportunity of landing Smith at no. 3. If the 6-foot-10 forward somehow falls on Houston's laps, he would be the steal of the draft. With that said, here are three reasons why Jabari Smith Jr. would be the perfect pick for the Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft.
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3 reasons Jabari Smith would perfect pick for Rockets
1. His three-point shooting
This may no longer be the Mike D'Antoni three-point heavy Rockets. But they've kept the three-ball identity under new coach Stephen Silas. During the 2021-22 season, Houston attempted the 4th most three-pointers, averaging 38.7 attempts per game. With that, Jabari Smith Jr. fits perfectly for the offense that the Rockets run.
Arguably Smith's most standout strength offensively is his three-point shooting. The 6-foot-10 forward shot an incredible 42.0 percent from long distance in his 34 games with Auburn and made a little over two threes per game. He has a silky smooth release and is terrific as a catch-and-shoot option. While he will still need improvement on this part of his game, Smith is also capable of hitting shots off the dribble.
2. Two-way upside
Aside from his three-point shooting, Smith also possesses tantalizing upside as a three-level scorer. He showcased an ability to put the ball on the floor and make difficult pull-up jumpers off the dribble. He showed flashes of making turnaround jumpers down on the block, an asset the Rockets can use as an option on the post.
Smith did have tendencies to settle for jumpers, instead of taking it strong to the rack. Nonetheless, the kid has tremendous athleticism. If he bulks up a little bit and works on his handle a little more, he could definitely turn into an elite three-level scorer with an improved ability to get to and finish at the rim.
As talented as he is offensively, Smith has also shown flashes of brilliance on the other end of the floor. At 6-foot-10 and 220 pounds, he possesses great versatility and length at his position. He has quick feet and good lateral movement that allows him to stay in front of quicker guards and wings on the perimeter. Smith's long limbs also allows him to cut off drives from the perimeter, as well as recover in time whenever he gets beaten off the bounce.
3. He'll strengthen Houston's crop of young studs
If Houston somehow lands Smith, the Rockets would only fortify one of the more promising young cores in the NBA.
Some of Houston's studs to look at include 2021 no. 2 pick Jalen Green, no. 16 pick Alperen Sengun, and Kevin Porter Jr., whom the Rockets acquired from a trade.
Green may have had a slow start to his rookie campaign. But he exploded after the All-Star break, where he turned in averages of 22.1 points on 47.6 percent field goal shooting and 37.8 three-point shooting in the last 24 games of the regular season. Meanwhile, Sengun showed flashes of offensive magic with his nifty footwork on the post, vision, and playmaking at the center position. Finally, Porter showed he can play the point guard position and co-exist with Green in the Rockets backcourt.
If Smith drops to third and joins the fray, Houston could be looking at a bright future over the next decade.
