Reactions tepid at best after Suns draft Jalen Smith
Nov 18, 2020, 7:56 PM | Updated: Nov 19, 2020, 2:12 am
FILE - In this Tuesday, March 3, 2020, file photo, Maryland's Jalen Smith (25) dunks as Rutgers' Myles Johnson (15) watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Piscataway, N.J. Smith is considered a first-round prospect in the NBA basketball draft on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
(AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Last season, the Phoenix Suns surprised many by drafting Cameron Johnson with the No. 11 pick.
They sent shock waves around the league once again with their selection of Jalen Smith on Wednesday night, taking the Maryland big with the No. 10 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Like Johnson, Smith is a player whose main appeal for an NBA team is his shooting ability. He shot 36.8% on 2.8 attempts from behind the arc last year and also corralled 10.5 rebounds per game. He can be expected to serve as a stretch big.
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Also like Johnson, draft analysts did not see Smith as a lottery pick. Arizona Sports’ Kellan Olson had Smith at No. 22 in his mock draft, and did not include Smith in the top 20 of the EOTS big board.
There were mixed reactions on social media.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger were far from complimentary of the decision.
Vecenie’s scouting report: Smith is the first player drafted that I had a second-round grade on. He’s a good shooter with terrific shot-blocking instincts. He is a pogo stick leaper who made All-Big Ten. Unfortunately, he’s also just very stiff and struggles to move laterally. The Suns will need to do some significant work with his flexibility in order for him to defend in space, which is a worry for a pick used in the top-10 on a big man.
Ranking: No. 32
Hollinger’s team fit: Any time you can use a lottery pick to get a backup-caliber player at the league’s least valuable position, you have to go ahead and do it. Smith can shoot and has some shot-blocking capability, but I had him 31st on my board. This is a head-scratching pick with so much perimeter talent available.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony had Smith as the No. 20 player on his big board and wrote:
The Suns shocked many in NBA circles by passing on a seemingly perfect fit in Iowa State guard Tyrese Haliburton to take Maryland big Jalen Smith.
Haliburton looked like an ideal guard to play behind Chris Paul and Devin Booker before eventually graduating to a bigger role down the road. Instead, the Suns looked to plug a more immediate hole in the frontcourt with Smith, who fills a need as a stretchy, shot-blocking big man. Smith should be able to play behind both Dario Saric (if re-signed) and Deandre Ayton, but passing on Haliburton there was tough.
Some recalled the Johnson pick and gave general manager James Jones the benefit of the doubt.
Jalen Smith doesn’t seem to make sense for the Suns. But we clowned Phoenix last year for Cam Johnson, and that turned out to be a really good pick
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) November 19, 2020
Whoa Jalen Smith is interesting for the Suns. NBA execs fully expect Aron Baynes to leave Phoenix (with New Orleans as a distinct possibility) so Smith can fill that stretch-5 role. I fully expect Monty Williams to use some double-big lineups too. Smith can stroke 3s like a wing. https://t.co/GwBxQiWtJR
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 19, 2020
I love how Jalen Smith plays. Dude hustles so hard. Bright Future Suns fans are gonna fall in love with his shooting ability, you're gonna see Monty Williams running him off screens. A fun, quirky player. Average athlete, needs to improve on D, but I'd bet on high effort players.
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) November 19, 2020
Jalen Smith fit-wise makes sense. Needs to add weight if he plays backup C and prove he can move if he wants PF minutes, but the shooting, shot-blocking profile fits with the fellas.
— Kevin Zimmerman (@KZimmermanAZ) November 19, 2020
Others were confused by the selection.
Jalen Smith pic.twitter.com/CNMLGu1DbE
— Bola Presa (@bolapresa) November 19, 2020
CBS Sports’ Gary Parrish and Kyle Boone graded the pick a D-. They wrote:
“I don’t understand it. I thought I liked Jalen Smith more than most, but I had him in the late-teens. But not in the top 10, and not on a team that already has Deandre Ayton.”
The Ringer was slightly more generous, giving it a C, and writing:
“The Suns clearly don’t believe in draft ranges, that’s for sure … The question is how much he can play as a power forward next to Deandre Ayton. Otherwise the Suns just used a top-10 pick on someone who can only play 15 minutes per game on their roster.”
The Ringer’s Paolo Uggetti had a different reason to appreciate Smith.
I’m sold on Jalen Smith based solely on his glasses.
— Paolo Uggetti (@PaoloUggetti) November 19, 2020
Some around Suns Twitter did some quick Googling of Smith and liked what they saw.
Wait… Jalen Smith can do THIS? pic.twitter.com/qhVqc7BuN3
— Andrew (@AndrewLeezus) November 19, 2020
Now that I know more about Jalen Smith I’m actually quite happy💜🧡 pic.twitter.com/FD28K0KQAy
— 𝔸𝕕𝕣𝕚𝕒𝕟🌟👨🏽🦯💤(6-3) (@BookerWRLD) November 19, 2020
And former Arizona Cardinal Tony Jefferson had something nice to say about Smith.
Jalen smith the shooter
— Tony Jefferson II (@_tonyjefferson) November 19, 2020
In the Suns world, there’s some excitement. Mikal Bridges welcomed his soon-to-be teammate to the Valley.
CHILL STICKS WELCOME MY BOY !!!!
— Mikal Bridges (@mikal_bridges) November 19, 2020
