Nick Smith Jr is an interesting fit for the Washington Wizards.
While he may not be exactly what the Wizards need, he could provide some interesting elements to their offense. He is an interesting prospect as he has barely played at the college level but was amazing in high school and has shown plenty of promise as a prospect in his limited playing time this season. Even better, he is projected to fall right into the Wizards laps.
Smith Jr is an elite scorer who can beat defenses on all three levels and in a variety of different ways. He has a tight handle and can break down defenses in a variety of different ways, still he also has issues when it comes to a potential fit with the Wizards.
To start off, his defense isn’t quite as good as other point guards in the draft, something that could deter the Wiz. He is by no means a bad defender; it’s just they need a high-quality defensive guard to complement Bradley Beal in the backcourt. This is an area Smith Jr will have to show improvement in during the tournament.
The Wizards also need a pure point guard, something that does not describe Nick Smith Jr almost at all. While he has shown flashes of playmaking, he has not quite shown what the Wizards should be looking for in a potential franchise point guard this season.
While he is a great scorer, he needs to show improved playmaking abilities and better defense in the NCAA Tournament if the Washington Wizards are to draft him. He could also be a player who slips in the draft due to injuries not unsimilar to Michael Porter Jr or Bol Bol, both of whom fell significantly.