2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Blazers and Bulls find new life
player. 29. . G, Arkansas. San Antonio Spurs. Nick Smith Jr.. 6
The Spurs should have a reasonable amount of confidence in Tre Jones, but it’s Best Player Available at this stage in the draft. Therefore it’s Nick Smith Jr., the twitchy offensive engine from Arkansas, who gets the nod here at No. 6.
Injuries are piling up for Smith this season — knee maladies have held him to just five appearances for the Razorbacks. That will naturally taint his draft stock and his ultimate position on draft night could come down to NBA medical evaluations. But, for now, he sticks in the top half of the lottery on the strength of his obvious talent.
And man, is that talent obvious. Smith just oozes touch offensively. His jumper looks pure, and while the 3-point efficiency has wavered at times, Smith’s effortless floaters and success inside the arc provide a strong foundation for optimism. At 6-foot-5, he has great size for the point guard spot while displaying impressive balance, craft, and the ability to change speeds on a dime.
San Antonio has two great wing prospects in Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, but Smith would take that young core to the next level. He has the potential to become the driving force behind Gregg Popovich’s offense and the kind of player who elevates everyone around him.