Milwaukee Bucks: 5 options for pick No. 17 in 2018 NBA Draft
2. Zhaire Smith, G/F, Texas Tech
The Milwaukee Bucks love long athletes with all of the raw tools to become elite NBA players if the skills come around. That led to the drafting of Giannis Antetokounmpo, a clear win, but also to mixed results with Jabari Parker and Thon Maker. D.J. Wilson is even more of a question mark.
If the Bucks decide to stick to the script and go after another nuclear athlete, then Zhaire Smith is the perfect fit. A prospect barely on NBA radars coming into the year, Smith leapt into the lottery discussion with an excellent freshman year for Texas Tech, capping it by averaging 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in the NCAA Tournament.
His leaping ability is off the charts, and that has proven true in the NBA Draft Combine, where he measured a 41.5 inch vertical, among the highest measured this year. He ranked among the top performers in every leaping or agility drill, and despite concerns about his shot, is proving that with careful attention it can come along quickly.
Super impressive workout from Zhaire Smith. Shot is much further along than advertised. Made a ton tonight, including quite a few sequences of 4 and 5 threes in a row. Could very well be the best athlete in the draft. pic.twitter.com/bnb1vLdmYk
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 17, 2018
In Smith, the Bucks would have a defensive wing who could come in and simply wreck opposing offenses, flying around the court altering shots, making closeouts and leaping passing lanes. In transition, could defenses imagine something as terrifying as Smith, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker racing down the court?
The shot is going to be the leverage factor, and the Bucks will need to be confident in Smith’s ability to become a high-level shooter to pair him with Antetokounmpo. But if they are, he would fit their ethos and their roster perfectly.
Programming note: Smith, like Gilgeous-Alexander and so many other players, is “racing up draft boards” right now. Simple math suggests one of these exciting players will drop, because teams can only pick one. There can’t be 25 lottery picks. One of these players will drop, and if it’s Smith, then the Bucks will pounce.