2018 NBA Mock Draft: What if Memphis wins the lottery?

I don’t claim to know what the absolute “right way” to play basketball is, but when I watch Smith play, I can’t help but shirk the thought that his way is the truth. He’s not the flashiest go-to scoring building block for a rebuilding team like the Clippers, but he’s a piece they can feel confident will reach his potential.

I went back and watched Smith against West Virginia at the start of conference play, in a game that saw him primarily matched up against Jevon Carter and Esa Ahmad. Smith had shown his defensive potential even that early in the season, and against the Mountaineers, the full breadth of his defensive instincts was on display. He had two sky-high blocks, but it was the constant energy that set the tone for Texas Tech in a game that set the tone for the rest of their impressive season.

For Smith, it’s an extended arm between the teeth of a pick, just before the space closes between he and his man, or an off-balance slide backward to close off a drive that appeared clean a beat before, that shows his potential to become elite. There’s nuance to the way he plays defense, in amongst big men for the most part as unleashed by coach Chris Beard, that sets him apart.

From here, it seems like the Clippers have decided Tobias Harris is a piece for them going forward. His lack of a defensive position hurts his teams’ ability to build around him, but a guy like Smith — simultaneously a rim protector and perimeter hound — could protect Harris and be helped by him on the other end, where Smith’s handle and shot are monumental works in progress.