2018 NBA Mock Draft: Where do Doncic, Ayton and Bagley land?

I continue to worry about Smith’s offensive role and potential impact on that end, but I think based on the consensus around him trending toward the lottery, he will end up around this range come draft night. In the midst of a rebuild, the Clippers should be willing to take a chance that his offense comes around.

Smith made the most shots at the rim of any Texas Tech player, according to Hoop-Math data, though nearly half of them were assisted. He made just one unassisted 3 all season, and only 17 total. His assist percentage finished at just 12.4. At this point in his development, Smith basically contributes no shot creation. There is plenty of potential — straight line drives and transition finishing — but at this point, Smith is a complementary player. He will need to become a better passer and finisher to fill out his game on that side.

However, the real area Smith could flourish is on defense. He would be an immediate boost for the Clippers’ defense, which relied on young wing defenders even this year amid their late playoff push. His advanced turnover creation numbers are probably the best in the class, likely a primary reason he declared for the draft and hired an agent so early in the process.

The Clippers should free up playing time this summer if they cannot add star-level talent, meaning Smith could have a big chance to grow.