Jabari Smith is projected to go within the top few picks in the 2022 NBA Draft and, if you ask Bruce Pearl, is all but guaranteed to be selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic Thursday night at the Barclays Center.
Smith himself believes so, telling Stephen A. Smith as much on his ESPN+ show when asked if he felt like he deserved to be the No. 1 selection:
"“Yes definitely, just because of what I bring to a team. My ability to shoot, my ability to defend, I just feel like I can fit into any system right away, I can contribute right away, and just my will to win…that’s why I feel like I’m the No. 1 pick.”"
Should @jabarismithjr be the first pick of the NBA Draft? pic.twitter.com/KkrPFPGIdu
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) June 21, 2022
What Jabari Smith’s role on the Orlando Magic would look like
Let’s just go ahead and assume Smith does go No. 1 overall Thursday night. In that case, what does the future look like for the 2022 SEC Freshman of the Year?
As Deadspin’s Lee Escobedo describes, Jabari Smith would become the team’s starting power forward alongside Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner in the frontcourt–assuming Mo Bama takes his ball and finds an unmatchable offer elsewhere in restricted free agency–with Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs in the backcourt to complete the lineup:
"“Smith would slot in as a small-ball center if Bamba leaves in free agency or the four next to Carter Jr. in the frontcourt. While Carter Jr. has yet to find his stroke consistently in the NBA, he would provide a big man duo with Smith that can stretch the floor and run the break. In addition, both bigs are great defenders and would provide match-up nightmares with their ability to rotate on switches and guard multiple positions.”"
Escobedo would go on to explain why Smith wouldn’t fit the center position due to his lackluster rebounding numbers. Luckily, he spent his lone college season playing the 4 almost exclusively. Carter Jr. has a game akin to Walker Kessler, so truthfully, no team would be as easy of a transition as the Magic would be.
Only Atlanta would be a better fit to Tiger fans out of sheer traveling convenience, but Orlando is exactly where Smith belongs, six-hour drive from the Plains be damned.