Auburn basketball: SCS loves the fit of Jabari Smith with the Houston Rockets

Former Auburn basketball forward Jabari Smith is on his way to the Houston Rockets organization after being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft — a surprise after being ticketed to go No. 1 to the Orlando Magic for weeks until the odds drastically shifted the day of.

Of course, Adrian Wojnarowski’s uncharacteristically inaccurate reporting was a critical element of why many people lost money to Vegas sportsbooks this past Thursday. Woj had reported that Smith was a done deal at No. 1, while Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero (the actual No. 1 pick) were set to be selected next.

The Magic now have someone in the former Duke forward Banchero with an arguably higher floor than Smith, but a lower ceiling than the No. 1 option on the 2021-22 regular season SEC Champion Auburn basketball team.

As for Houston, Fly War Eagle’s Rockets sister-site, Space City Scoop, was high on the former Tiger’s arrival in southeast Texas. Rob Leeds lauded the draft day addition of Smith to H-Town:

"“Jabari Smith was the best natural fit for the Rockets on the board. Houston now has a legitimate forward that can play the Jae’Sean Tate role that he was a bit too small for. The starting lineup for Houston now could look like Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Tate in a better role, Smith, and Alperen Sengun. It’s a young lineup, but it is one that has a bright future and plenty of time to grow and get better on defense. To better the case for Smith, his talents on offense won’t stifle the growth of guys like Green, KPJ, or Sengun.”"

Auburn basketball may have just sent its best prospect to the NBA

In terms of competition from Auburn basketball peers at the professional level, Jabari Smith mainly has Charles Barkley as someone to surpass as the greatest Tiger to ever set foot in the NBA.

Barkley, a ‘Dream Team’ member on the 1992 Team USA squad that most consider the most talented roster of any sport ever, had a legendary career as an undersized beast on the boards who averaged 22 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. Smith could be a better scorer, and most importantly, could be an eventual champion if the Rockets core comes together and sees Smith, Jalen Green, or both, become legitimate No. 1 options while the rest of the core figures out the best way to contribute in supporting roles.