After across the board improvement last season, his second in the league, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. has taken a step back this season. Following a disappointing rookie year, the former third overall pick in the 2022 draft averaged 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, shooting 45.4% from the floor and 36.3% from long distance on five attempts per game. Those shooting figures were an improvement from his rookie season when he shot 40.8% from the floor and 30.7% from long distance. This year, thus far, Smith has averaged 10.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, and shot just 38.1% from the floor and 25% from long distance. The Rockets are winning, now 8-4, but if Smith’s struggles continue, head coach Ime Udoka will no doubt have no choice but to make a change to his lineup, particularly with fellow third year forward Tari Eason flourishing off the bench.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Smith. He’s now in the third year of his four year rookie contract, signed back in 2022 for $40.33 million. The Rockets can extend Smith and Eason this offseason up until the start of next regular season. After the 2025-2026 season, Smith can enter restricted free agency. Just prior to the start of this season, Houston came to terms on extensions for its 2021 marquee draftees, center Alperen Sengun and guard Jalen Green. Both players were secured at discounted rates at what they might have been able to command. Had he continued on his trajectory of improvement from last season, Smith too could have hoped for an early show of faith from the Rockets front office. If things continue the way they have, it’s unlikely his market value will be much more than the midlevel exception. Smith is still just 21 years old.
Smith is averaging 28.2 minutes per game this year, down from the 31.9 minutes he played last year. And his minutes have dipped of late. In the Rockets’ most recent win, against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 13, Smith played just 21 minutes, benched for most of the second half. This is partly due to the fact that Udoka has a viable alternative that he didn’t have last year in Eason, with the latter having missed most of the year with a leg injury. From start to finish, Eason may have played better than any other Rocket thus far this year, with his relentless defense and efficiency attacking the rim and shooting from long distance. It’s almost inevitable that Eason claims one of the starting forward spots for this Rockets team long term.
What happens with Smith going forward will be one of the most interesting storylines to watch this year for the Rockets. Do they try to trade him before his value tanks any further? At still just 21 years old, many NBA teams would be willing to take a flier on his potential and perhaps give up value for the chance to do so. It’s unlikely Smith will ever get the type of role with the Rockets that he enjoyed with Auburn as the focal point of the offense. Not as long as Sengun and Green are here. The Rockets hope he can turn it around without needing such accommodations. With Smith’s extension eligibility looming, they’ll be watching closely.
Read the full article here
