Jalen Smith Hive: Is He a Future Franchise Cornerstone?
October 19, 2022
Yesterday, we dropped Pt. 1 of NBA Players Ready to Breakout in 2022-23. Today, we drop Pt. 2. Which players do you think missed the overall list? [https://4ormypeople.com/athletics/2022/10/19/breakout-szn-pt-2](https://4ormypeople.com/athletics/2022/10/19/breakout-szn-pt-2)
7 comments
I hope so, if he has a consistent outside shot he could be deadly. I feel like he’ll cap out around a 15/10 guy but I would love to be wrong.
Cornerstone? Very much doubt that
Solid starter? Sure
Depends on the Jalen Smith we get.
If it’s the first 10 games of Jalen Smith from when he was traded to the team, then he’s very likely a good starting piece at a reasonable cap hit.
If instead we get the last 10 games of Jalen Smith, he’s a very solid bench piece.
We’ll just have to see. I like giving him an opportunity, though I think guaranteeing him the starting role – while likely integral in his choice to re-sign here – was premature on a team that could have a myriad of breakout players.
This season will be about seeing what we have, and it would be a little awkward to pull him from the starting lineup if he isn’t producing at the first 10 game level. So I think guaranteeing him the starting 4 job was a bit premature but it is what it is. This season’s not about wins and losses so who really cares about the starting lineup at the end of the day.
TL:DR – Depends on which version of Jalen we get. Could be a good role player, could be a solid bench piece. Cornerstone is a bit…ambitious.
Edit: fixed a typo
Pacers fans and high expectations, name a better duo?
a lot of fans have been shitty towards Turner the past couple of years while he’s produced solid numbers and want to act like Jalen Smith can easily achieve double-double stats without acknowledging the weird double edged sword.
my opinion on Jalen: no he’s not a cornerstone piece and no i don’t expect him to be a 15/10 guy who by the way is a lot more valuable than “solid starter” if he averages those numbers. i do think he’ll be a “solid starter” but i’m not expecting or holding him to any numbers quite yet.
I doubt he’s a cornerstone but I think he can be a solid player.
At 4? No.
Smith looks bad at defense (against 4s he is either not strong enough or not quick enough), he shoots well below 37% from three, doesn’t have a quick first step or Euro step (both help driving out of the corner when he isn’t hitting threes). He is a decent cutter though.
This is some more of my issue with everyone saying position less basketball… It’s pretty much a bullshit statement to explain away poor roster building.
Smith isn’t a 4, the sun’s figured that out and we are now as well. He isn’t the best player at 4 on this team, that would either be Oshae(who is banished from the rotation to start the year again) or TT. He would be better served getting reps at the 5, but we need opposing teams 5s to guard Myles (to boost trade value) and starting Stix is pretty much the only way to guarantee that.
But maybe his shot % increases before he loses his starting position. I don’t see him becoming a better defender against quick 4s but maybe he can bulk up a little so he isn’t bullied by the Julius Randalls of the league, and with better foot work maybe the Julius Randalls of the league won’t get around him at will.
I think it’s going to be rough the first month or so with Jalen Smith but maybe as the year goes on and the roster shakes out he will get reps that will actually benefit his development. As of now my ceiling for him is bench big.
I think we can all agree after today, Jalen Smith is not a franchise cornerstone. If anything, he’s a stone that somehow made it into the facility and found himself in the starting lineup.
7 comments
I hope so, if he has a consistent outside shot he could be deadly. I feel like he’ll cap out around a 15/10 guy but I would love to be wrong.
Cornerstone? Very much doubt that
Solid starter? Sure
Depends on the Jalen Smith we get.
If it’s the first 10 games of Jalen Smith from when he was traded to the team, then he’s very likely a good starting piece at a reasonable cap hit.
If instead we get the last 10 games of Jalen Smith, he’s a very solid bench piece.
We’ll just have to see. I like giving him an opportunity, though I think guaranteeing him the starting role – while likely integral in his choice to re-sign here – was premature on a team that could have a myriad of breakout players.
This season will be about seeing what we have, and it would be a little awkward to pull him from the starting lineup if he isn’t producing at the first 10 game level. So I think guaranteeing him the starting 4 job was a bit premature but it is what it is. This season’s not about wins and losses so who really cares about the starting lineup at the end of the day.
TL:DR – Depends on which version of Jalen we get. Could be a good role player, could be a solid bench piece. Cornerstone is a bit…ambitious.
Edit: fixed a typo
Pacers fans and high expectations, name a better duo?
a lot of fans have been shitty towards Turner the past couple of years while he’s produced solid numbers and want to act like Jalen Smith can easily achieve double-double stats without acknowledging the weird double edged sword.
my opinion on Jalen: no he’s not a cornerstone piece and no i don’t expect him to be a 15/10 guy who by the way is a lot more valuable than “solid starter” if he averages those numbers. i do think he’ll be a “solid starter” but i’m not expecting or holding him to any numbers quite yet.
I doubt he’s a cornerstone but I think he can be a solid player.
At 4? No.
Smith looks bad at defense (against 4s he is either not strong enough or not quick enough), he shoots well below 37% from three, doesn’t have a quick first step or Euro step (both help driving out of the corner when he isn’t hitting threes). He is a decent cutter though.
This is some more of my issue with everyone saying position less basketball… It’s pretty much a bullshit statement to explain away poor roster building.
Smith isn’t a 4, the sun’s figured that out and we are now as well. He isn’t the best player at 4 on this team, that would either be Oshae(who is banished from the rotation to start the year again) or TT. He would be better served getting reps at the 5, but we need opposing teams 5s to guard Myles (to boost trade value) and starting Stix is pretty much the only way to guarantee that.
But maybe his shot % increases before he loses his starting position. I don’t see him becoming a better defender against quick 4s but maybe he can bulk up a little so he isn’t bullied by the Julius Randalls of the league, and with better foot work maybe the Julius Randalls of the league won’t get around him at will.
I think it’s going to be rough the first month or so with Jalen Smith but maybe as the year goes on and the roster shakes out he will get reps that will actually benefit his development. As of now my ceiling for him is bench big.
I think we can all agree after today, Jalen Smith is not a franchise cornerstone. If anything, he’s a stone that somehow made it into the facility and found himself in the starting lineup.
Alternate reality: A stone playing basketball🪨