Hornets snag Nick Smith Jr. with 27th pick

With the No. 27 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Hornets selected Arkansas guard Nick Smith Jr.

Ranked third in his recruiting class by ESPN, Smith struggled mightily with the Razorbacks. After just five games, his season was derailed by a knee injury that kept him out for nearly two months. He returned in mid-February and finished the year averaging 12.5 points in 17 contests. Smith shot an underwhelming 37.6% from the field, including 33.8% from beyond the arc.

Despite his poor performance in college, Smith's high school pedigree and flashes of dynamic scoring provide some reason for optimism. His hot stretches could turn into something more if he's given time to develop and round out his game. He also attempted just 71 3-pointers over 17 games, so his lack of 3-point efficiency could be a product of small sample size more than anything. Still, Smith's disappointing season at Arkansas makes him a true boom-or-bust prospect in the middle of the first round.

Bio

Position: Guard
School: Arkansas
College experience: Freshman
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 185 lbs
Wingspan: N/A
Max vertical: N/A

2022-23 stats with Arkansas

Strengths

• Good in transition. Not afraid to push the pace and create fast breaks off of steals and defensive rebounds.
• Comfortable playing off the ball. Quick release and good shooting form bodes well for him as a catch-and-shoot player despite poor 3-point percentage in college.
• Potential as a shot creator off the dribble if he learns to pick his spots better. Has soft touch on floaters and runners in the paint.

Weaknesses

• Poor decision-maker. Takes too many tough mid-range shots early in the shot clock. Low assist rate; often fails to make the right passing reads.
• Inconsistent shooter. While the flashes are there, he wasn't efficient, though this was also due to his poor shot selection.
• Lack of size and strength means he can get bumped off his spots when driving to the basket. Doesn't finish well at the rim through contact.

NBA comparable: Bones Hyland. Smith resembles both the good and the bad aspects of the Clippers guard. They're both tall but slim point guards who can create their own shots and get hot in a hurry, but they struggle with efficiency. Neither are particularly good passers for a primary ball-handler. It will be key for Smith to develop into an above average 3-point shooter at the next level as Hyland did, shooting 36.8% over his first two seasons. The only major difference between the two is defense: Smith could be solid, while Hyland is a liability. It wouldn't be surprising to see Smith end up in a similar role as a high-energy scorer off the bench.