Smith emerged as the nearly consensus number one player a few weeks after the Magic won the draft lottery. I do believe that the hype is justified. Jabari is a super talented all around forward. He is a versatile playmaker, and has an impressive frame. He uses his size to force his way to the basket, but also hits threes on a regular basis. His high release allows him to get over basically any defender who dares to stand in his way. Jabari most certainly has the tools to become a top 5 player in the league. His offensive creation isn't eye popping at this point, but he can get better. He has such a feeling of completeness that no other player in the draft truly has. He has great timing on rebounds and his long arms allow him to grab quite a few of them. Despite some naysayers, his handle is great. Increasing his guard skills even more can unlock his game in the open floor. He can already go coast to coast in transition scenarios. Smith has lots of defensive versatility and definitely has the looks of a franchise level player. In the NBA, he projects a big modern power forward who can defend every position.
Comparison: Rashard Lewis ++
Projected Draft Range: 1
Best Team Fits: Orlando, Houston, San Antonio