He can shoot!!!

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

One thing for sure, a defense only big like Chandler gets paid a lot more than defense only guards. It isn't even close.

Which makes sense.  Beyond having an elite scorer, historically the most important factor to a championship team is an elite defensive big.   Some would argue that it is THE most important factor.   Ask any stat-head about the impact Ben Wallace made on the Pistons title team.  A one-way player who was about as dominant a presence as a basketball player can be.

It's possible for an elite defensive big to be your team's best player.  Isn't Bill Russell a classic example of that?  Over his career he averaged 15 points on 44% shooting and 56% from the free throw line.  Is anyone doubting who fueled that dynasty? 

There's really no example of an offensively inept guard dominating a game (consistently) with his defense.   Championships aren't generally won, because a point guard was wicked good at playing the passing lanes.   Smart may indeed have a future as an offensive player, but there's also a chance he goes down as a defensive role player whose greatest impact is felt in games where he slows down better guards.

I don't think we NEED an elite defensive big anymore. I'd settle for a really good one. The big position has changed so much. The best players are mainly guards now (PGs especially). We need excellent guard defense and a big who is very good at help defense. An elite defensive big is what I want but not really a need. Give me a K. Leonard type as our SF, to go with AB and Smart, add a solid help defending big who can switch out to the perimeter without hurting us, and we are set!

[byennie]

I'm not going to go so far as to say Smart is shooting *well* when he's at 36%. However, I think you do have to look at how he's been used, because it's hardly typical for a high draft pick PG.

His 3PT shot is at least encouraging. Certainly being at 34% with one really bad month mixed in, it's not crazy to think he can be at 35%+ with high volume. Which is a good mark and a huge advantage against someone like Rubio.

His usage is very low, and he has a history of being able to get to the line. Right now he's getting around 1 FTA per 10 minutes played but his usage is a tiny 15%.

So here's a "realistic" projection that I think is at least encouraging, especially if you consider that he has a very real chance of making more than modest improvements after age 21.

1) Minutes from 26 => 35 (+33%)
2) 3PT to 37%
3) Usage from 15% => 20% (+33%, applied to shots attempts and assists evenly)
4) FT% to 75%
5) 2PT% to 45%

What does that all add up to?

3PT: 2.8 for 7.5 (37%)
FT: 3.5 for 4.7 (75%)
2PT: 2.4 for 5.2 (45%)

Points: 16.7
Assists: 6.0
Rebounds: 4.5
Steals: 1.7
Turnovers: 1.9
TS%: 56.5%

I don't think those are exactly outrageous improvements, and you're looking at a guy who is giving you roughly 17-6-4 with great defense and good efficiency.