Thanks to falling to the second round of the NBA Draft, former Louisville guard Russ Smith should enter his rookie season with a chip on his shoulder. After all, he was the go-to scorer on the squad that won the 2013 NCAA title, one would think that his draft stock would be a tad higher.
Scouts and analysts alike deemed Smith to be too small (he is listed at 6’0″ tall with a weight at 165) to conform to the NBA style; this was likely the biggest reason Smith fell so far down draft boards.
If there is one transferable skill for Smith to make it in the NBA, it is the fact that the man can shoot. Last season at Louisville, Smith shot 39 percent from beyond the arc while shooting at a 47 percent clip from the field.
For a guard of his stature, that 47 percent mark is nothing to scoff at.
Besides his excellent shooting prowess, Smith is a slippery guard at heart, and was able to get into the paint at will during his career at Louisville and during his short time in the NBA Summer League. Watch this highlight video to get a better visual of what I mean.
The very first play showcases Smith’s ability to work with bigs on the pick and roll. He went about his business in a patient way, read the defense and ultimately made the right decision by sinking a Tony Parker-esque floater over the bigger defender.
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Smith may make this play look easy, but it is not out of the ordinary to see young guards struggle with executing the pick and roll with that much patience and wherewithal. I know the competition in the Summer League is not exactly the stiffest, but we should be able to assume that it is still a significant step up from college.
A thing that even caught me by surprise while watching the video was the unique floater game that is in Smith’s repertoire. The development of a good floater is key to the success of smaller guards.
And with Smith’s ability to knife his way into the lane (notice his shifty dribble moves as he weaves through defenders) his floater will come in handy.
Tony Parker is the best example of this, and he has paved a potential Hall of Fame career because of his little floaters. If Smith is able to combine his knockdown 3-point shooting with a reckless abandon towards driving the basket, he will become a useful asset for the Pelicans.
The question is, will Smith be able to make an impact this season? To be honest, I have not a clue.
The presence of guards Jimmer Fredette and Austin Rivers leaves Smith on the outside looking in as far as playing time goes. However, I suspect that both Rivers and Jimmer will fall into rough times while attempting to run the second unit offense.
This means that Russ should at least be given a chance to shine.
I am a sucker for a good underdog success story, so I hope he makes the most of his opportunity. Keep an out for Russ Smith, Pelican fans.