The Sixer Sense
Fansided

2018 NBA Draft Big Board 7.0

By Christopher Kline

Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic reacts during the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid's Slovenian Luka Doncic reacts during the Euroleague Final Four finals basketball match between Real Madrid and Fenerbahce Dogus Istanbul at The Stark Arena in Belgrade on May 20, 2018. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Smith is probably the best athlete in the draft. He’s one of the least-refined prospects in the lottery discussion, but his defensive upside and athletic ceiling are two things that NBA teams will covet. His high basketball I.Q. alleviates a lot of potential concerns as well.

At 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, Smith has the tools needed to defend one through three. He’s also an impressive off-ball defender, bursting into passing lanes and making the occasional high-flying block on the weak side. He also rebounds supremely well for a wing.

Where Smith needs to work on his game is the offensive end. He’s an explosive cutter and smart passer, but doesn’t project all that well as a shooter or ball handler. He hit threes at a solid rate in college, but they were standstill, spot-up threes that gave him enough time to get off his lengthy release. That won’t always cut it in the NBA.